A Better Solution Than Divorce

by Jennifer Allison

  

Starting with this part - Dean will be called Jennifer and Jennifer will be called Dean.

 

Jennifer

I wasn't allowed to wear any make-up at all until the start of the school year, a touch of lipstick and a little rogue. That was until the night of the Homecoming Dance.

With the help of mom, I was now applying mascara along with eye shadow that matched the color of my dress.

"A girl needs to look just perfect for an important occasion as her first dance," mom told me.

I knew I should be asking questions upon questions, as she help me, but I knew the time wasn't right. So the questions would have to wait for an appropriate time.

Mom was helping me into my dress when the doorbell rang. I knew without asking it was Mark.

As I tried to rush getting dress, Mom told me, "Slow down Jennifer. One of the first requirements for a girl on her first date is, that she is never on time. Besides, if a boy is smart, he would have planned on his date being late."

"Won't Mark worry?' I asked.

"No," she told me. "For my first date, I was an hour late."

"Didn't that worry your date?' I needed to know.

"Not one bit," she replied. "He married me anyway."

"You mean you made dad wait an hour?" I asked.

"Yes I did and it was well worth the wait for both of us."

I finally went and met my date.

By the look on the faces of Dean, dad and Mark I knew I had picked the right dress.

I broke the silence when I asked about the package in Mark's hand. "Is that for me?"

"Yes," was the only word Mark said and then handed me my corsage. It was wrist courage with the color matching my dress.

I had to know, "How did you know to pick the right color?"

Mark was finally able to say more than one word. "I sort of bribe your mom to call me when you had decided on the color."

I turned and stared at my mom. My dad then broke his silence. "I did the same thing with my first date with your mom."

Since neither Mark nor I had our driver's license yet, it had been agreed between our parents that my dad would take us to the dance and Mr. Steel would pick us up.

I found out something right away. Walking in spike heels isn't what it is suppose to be.

With my feet giving me trouble, I still wouldn't go and change my shoes.

As with most small towns where there isn't a lot happening. Any school dance was a very big thing and with the Homecoming Dance rated only behind the Prom as the most important dance of the whole year, all the men were in tuxes and the women dressed to fit the occasion.

For the first couple of dances, I danced with Mark. Then I was asked to dance with someone else, or I should say, Mark and I were asked.

"Mark is there a problem if I danced with Jennifer?" asked Phil Driefort.

Mark being the gentleman he was said, "No problem."

Phil and I had been sort of distant from each other since I let it be known that I wanted to stay in Jennifer's body permanently. So distant.

 

Mark

I know a lot of men would be upset with someone asking his date for a dance. There were two very good reasons why I didn't mind when Phil asked. I knew that he and Jennifer used to be friends before the switch. The other was, he asked me the day before if he could dance with Jennifer.

Now came the big part of the evening. The selection of the Homecoming Queen and her princesses. Our school selects our Homecoming Queens a very different way than other schools do. A girl just can't decide she wants to be queen. Any girl found campaigning for Queen is automatically eliminated. So the way we select a queen is that each member of the student body writes down the name of the senior whom they want to be Queen and the girl they want to be the princess from each class. The senior girl who receives the most votes is selected as the Homecoming Queen and the senior girl who receives the second most is her Senior Princess.

"The senior princess is Maureen Ferris." A tall red head girl who played in most the schools sports until a freak accident tore her ACL and MCL in her left knee.

"The Junior Princess is Cindy Winters." A light brown hair girl of average height, who enjoyed the world and spread this joy to others who needed it. She could take someone who came to school with a frown and within five minutes they are smiling and laughing.

"The Sophomore Princess is." I knew what was coming. "Jennifer McLean." A strange hush fell over the crowd. A single clap broke this silence from the back of the gym. This clap was soon followed by many more.

You see Jennifer was the first of the kids in Dr. Knox's program ever selected to be part of either the Homecoming or Prom Court. This is why I was asked by the Homecoming Committee to ask Jennifer to the dance. Of which they didn't need to, since I was planning on doing so long before they ask.

 

Jennifer

If Mark hadn't been standing there I would have fainted.

There was trouble brewing in the back of the gym.

Wally Claxon

I was standing with my teammates when the Homecoming court was announced. I have always considered myself a ladies man with a very big mouth. To prove my point about my big mouth, was the next words out of my mouth. "By the end of the football season I will have sex with every member of the court."

"I'll bet you one hundred dollars you won't get to first base with even one of them," said Tommy Brother, my left offensive tackle.

"I'll take your bet. I will even bet you another hundred, I will score with any of the four members," I told him. "I'll even let you pick the girl."

"That's easy," said Tommy. "Jennifer McLean."

By this time there was a lot more money put down on side bets, there was no way for me backing out tonight.

There was one voice of reason. "The coach's daughter you have to be crazy," said Andy Tucker.

"Just look at her," I told him. "The way she is dressed, she is just looking for it." I should have listened to Andy and that small voice in the back of my head shouting, 'DON'T DO THIS!'

 

Randy Wolf.

I am a Poetry/ English Composition Teacher at Tolerance High School. This is my first regular teaching job after I received my Master's Degree in Poetry. But it isn't my first time living in Tolerance, ten years ago my family joined Dr. Knox program. My Father switched with my mom and my sister and I did also.

It was the happiest month in my entire life.

You see I have also felt I should have been a girl. But Mother Nature decided to pull a practical joke on me. She gave me the mind and the feelings of a girl but the body of a boy.

I was so happy I didn't mind the PMS. I even knew from memory how many periods I would have by the time I reach my 40th birthday.

During the time I was in my sister's body I tried everything I could think of to make sure my sister would stay in my old body. But it all came crashing down when my sister announced she wanted to switch back.

She knew how much I wanted to stay in her body. She later explained her decision. She just couldn't take what I had to put up with all of my life. Let me explain this, so you can understand where she is coming from. Right now I am 24 years old and I stand five foot four and weigh in one hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet. Being as small I am the other students made my life a living hell.

Finally, I had to do something that totally made me sick. I had to learn karate. So after the third time a bully picked on me he ended up with a kick in the balls. I was left alone.

After our time in Tolerance my family moved away. My parents are still together and will celebrate their 30th anniversary next month.

When I went off to college decided to study the two things that made my life worth while, teaching and poetry. After graduation I applied to only one school, Tolerance High. With Dr. Knox's help, I was accepted.

I will let you in on my little secret. At school my name is Randy Wolf, but at home I use the name Rachael/Rena. The students don't really think of me that much. You see I only own three suits. I wear them to school. My closets at home are full my gorgeous feminine clothes.

Tonight, I had been assigned as one of the Homecoming Dance chaperones and by sheer coincidence I happen to over hear the bet between Wally and Tommy.

 

Jennifer

I had been walking on cloud nine since the announcement of my selection as Sophomore Homecoming Princess. I don't think my feet touch the floor as Mark and I danced the dance of the royal court.

I was still cloud on nine when Mother Nature called to tell me I needed a pit stop.

There are two entrances to the girl's locker room. You can entry by the gym, but the bandstand and the crowd blocked it, so I had to use the entrance from the hallway.

If I hadn't been on cloud nine I would have noticed Wally and Tommy following me out of the gym.

Wearing a tight fitting dress, it took me awhile to get what I needed done. As I walked out of the locker room, Wally grabbed my arm and pushes me up against the wall. It wasn't too hard to do as he out weighs me by eighty pounds.

The only word I was able to get out of mouth was. "NO!" Before his lips were on mine.

As one hand held me against the wall the other was trying to get underneath my dress.

All of sudden I heard. "STOP!!!" it was Mark.

Before Mark could do anything Tommy had him in a bear hug.

I then heard Tommy tell Mark. "She wants it as much as we do. Don't worry you can have your crack at her when we are done."

As of sudden Wally released me and stiffened up. When I looked to see why he had done so. I found Mr. Wolf standing behind him.

Wally finally regained his composure and tells to face Mr. Wolf. "You shouldn't have done that," Wally told him.

Mr. Wolf then moved into a karate stance and then said, "Before you decide you want more of me. I should warn you that I am a third degree black belt."

Before anymore could be said or done Mr. Brown showed up. "I saw everything. Wally, you and Tommy are suspended until further noticed." Both boys tried to say something. "If I hear one more word out of you, I will add one week to your suspensions."

He then turned to me and ask, "Are you okay, Jennifer?"

All I could do was nod, because I couldn't hold back the tears.

He then asked, "Do you want to go home?"

I finally spoke my first and only word, "yes."

Mark then spoke up, "My dad is supposed to pick us up and he won't be here for an hour."

Mr. Brown then turned to Mr. Wolf. "Randy could you take these children home and explain to the McLeans' what happen and tell them I will come calling tomorrow to discuss the problem."

 

Richard

I knew something was wrong when I heard a car drive up.

Helen was at the front before Jennifer holding on to Mark before they reach the porch.

"WHAT'S WRONG?" screamed Helen.

"Wally Claxon tried to assault Jennifer," announced Mark.

Randy Wolf then said, "it was stopped before it became more than kissing and petting."

"I'll kill them!" I announced. Before I could turned and find the rifle I have in the house Randy Wolf blocked my path.

"Doc Mac. Don't do something you'll be sorry for." he told me. "Your first priority should be Jennifer, then sit down and think of what the best thing to do with this situation."

Knowing Randy was right. I helped Helen put Jennifer to bed along with sedative to help her sleep.

Twenty minutes later Randy, Helen and I sat down to discuss what had happen.

"It was a simple case of peer pressure," announce Randy.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I was within hearing range when it all started. Wally made a statement that he makes it with the entire Homecoming Court. Tommy bet him that he couldn't do with any of them."

"There had to be at least three others in the court. Why was it that Jennifer was assaulted?" Helen asked.

"Wally then stated he do if with any one that Tommy picked," said Randy. "Tommy picked Jennifer. Mr. Brown has suspended both boys until further punishment is determine."

"They are off the team at least," announced Helen.

Helen

As I said that Wally and Tommy were off the team the phone rang.

It was William Claxon, Wally's dad on the phone.

"Coach, I want you to know how sorry Wally and my family is for what happen to night," Said William.

"Sorry isn't the word my husband was looking for, it was his rifle," was Helen reply. "He has calm down some, but is about to call the sheriff."

"You have every right to call the sheriff and kick Wally off the football team," said William. "But is there any way that all of this can be avoided?" You know that a few colleges are looking at Wally for football scholarship. If he got kicked off the team, or even a rumor of what happened got out, He would lose any chance of going to college.

Helen knew that the Claxon couldn't afford to send Wally to college and if charges were pressed Wally would most likely end up on the streets.

"I'll talk to my husband," announced Helen. "What we will do will most likely depend on Jennifer comes through all of this."

"That is all I can ask," said Mr. Claxon and he hung up.

By chance Hillary Knox was in town on one of her monthly visit

When told of what happen Hillary said she would go over to talk to Jennifer in the morning.

 

Hillary Knox

"Jennifer may I come in?" I asked at Jennifer bedroom door.

"GO AWAY! I don't want to talk to anyone," Jennifer said through the door.

"Jennifer you need to talk to me, I am not leaving until we talk," I told her.

Ten minutes of silence followed, Finally Jennifer opened the door a crack to see if I was still there. "I told you I won't leave until we talk."

Jennifer didn't say a thing as she moved into her room and left the door open. I took this as an invite and walked in.

As she sat down on her bed I could tell she had been crying.

Finally she spoke one word, "Why!"

"I don't have answer to the reason why," I told her. "All I can say, this horrible thing happens a lot more than people think. At 80% of the women I know, that includes myself. Has something like this happen."

"This has happen to you?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, in college," I told her.

"How did you handle it?' she asked.

"With help of some very close friends. That is where you are in luck," I said.

"Why?" she asked.

"In my case, my family lived on the West Coast. Here you have your family and friends who will help you through it all."

"Friends, who will be my friend after this?", she wanted to know.

"How about Mark," I said. "Do you know he slept on your front porch last night in his tux. Your mother found him when she got the newspaper this morning. He never went home."

Knowing that her family and at least one of her friends would stand behind her, Jennifer calm down and ask. "What is going to happen to Wally and that brute Tommy."

"That is still being discussed," I told her.

I soon left the room. I found out later that both Mark and Jennifer went out horse back riding that afternoon.

A Conference held in the Teacher's lounge at Tolerance High.

Present were Helen & Richard McLean, Mr. Brown, William & Brenda Claxon, Terry and Wilma Brothers and Hillary Knox.

Awaiting outside to hear of their punishment were Wally and Tommy.

William started it. "My wife and I and the Brothers understand that our boys did something that is dissectible. And that the two of them could be sent to jail."

"I promise that my boy will never do anything like it again," announced Terry. "What Wally and I want or we should say beg. Please don't do anything to the boys that could ruin the rest of their lives because of one stupid mistake."

"My family isn't out to ruin your boys’ lives, but we do want them and the others involved to realize they did do something wrong and not get away with it," said Helen.

"Your not talking about kicking everyone involved off the football team?" asked Brenda.

"I don't see where that helps anyone. I have my own plans on the side betters."

"What are your plans for our boys?" asked Wilma.

"My first thought was grab my rifle and shoot them," announced Richard. "I decided that would just make matters worse."

"So what will be there punishment?" asked Wally.

Mr. Brown started, "They will be allowed back in school Tuesday with an excused absence. Which means they will be disqualified from the perfect attendance record that both of them where going for. Second, when I need volunteers for anything. Like cleaning up after a basketball game. I won't need to look any further than Wally and Tommy until they graduate."

*A reward of one hundred dollars is awarded to any student that doesn't miss a day during their twelve years of schooling.

"Also they will identify all of those who had side bets down," Mr. Brown told them.

"So they can be suspended?" ask Terry.

"NO, I figure on a 5000 word essay on sexual abuse will be enough punishment," Mr. Brown told them.

"The side betters from the football team will have to a pay an extra punishment I decide on," said Helen.

"That is what the school has planned for ours and the others." William then asked. "What other punishment is planned for Wally and Tommy?"

"There will be two parts to their punishment," Richard told them. "Both Hillary, and my wife have agreed that if they meet both requirements there won't be anything else."

"Like being off the team?" ask Wilma.

"No they are still on the team," said Helen.

"The first part is they go to therapy, I will set it up for Saturday's in the city," announced Hillery.

"The other?" asked Brenda.

"After the football season is over with the boys spend a month in my program. To find out what it is like to wear the other shoe," Hillary told them.

"And if they refuse," asked William.

"They are off the team and a report will be filed with the Sheriff's Office. After that it will depend on the DA."

"They will also be suspended for a week," said Mr. Brown.

Wilma then asked, "You will want Brenda and I to switch with our sons?"

"That will be to easy part for them," replied Hillery. "A couple of high schools girls have asked to try out my program but have never found any one willing to switch with them. They both have volunteered to switch with your boys."

"May we have a few words with our sons before we make the final decision?" asked Terry.

"You can have the time until the first bell tomorrow. If Wally and Tommy are in class that will mean you accepted this deal."

Wally and Tommy were called into the lounge as Hillery, Richard, Helen and Mr. Brown.

Before the door closed William said. "Don't leave right away."

"We'll be in my office for thirty minutes," said Mr. Brown.

 

Mr. Brown

We were met by the Claxons and Brothers as we were leaving thirty minutes later.

"We accept the deal," said both Wally and Tommy. "Here is a list of the side betters."

"I will expect your essays by Thursday morning. Since you have a days warning. The others will have theirs done by Friday," I told them.

"Yes sir." The two boys then turned to the McLeans’. "You don't know how sorry we are for this to have happened."

"We aren't the ones you should be saying that to," reminded Helen.

"We will find a way to make it up to Jennifer," announced both Wally and Tommy.

"One other thing. This incident will not be forgotten and if I ever hear the two of you do something even slightly familiar I will bring this incident up again."

End of part 13

  

  

  

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