Shall We Dance               by: Paul G Jutras

 

It was raining when Ryan got to school soaked to the bone. As he leaned against the brick wall, he slipped off his white sneakers, turned them upside down and dumped water into the nearby potted plant. His bangs looked stringy like limp noodles. "What a day for picture day," He said as he saw his white dress shirt, pants and sleeveless sweeter reflection in the office window.

"Come on," Dotty called as she put her raincoat in her locker and fluffed her white dress with the puffy shoulders. She looked lovely with the ribbon in her hair, suntan pantyhose and black Mary Jane shoes. "Hi want to be my partner at the square dance?"

"Square dance?" Ryan asked.

"Did you hear?" Dotty asked. "Because of the rain, we got square dancing in gym."

"Sure."

The guys and girls looked nice all dressed in the suits and dresses. In the gym the bowed to their partner and bowed to their mate. They began to dance off, with Ryan stepping all over Dotty’s feet and getting the floor all wet with the soles of his shoes.

"Mr. Hinkle!" Miss Broadside said as she walked up to him. "You can’t dance in those wet clothes. Didn’t you bring anything you can changed into?"

"No, ma’am." Ryan lowered his head.

"Let’s see what we can find you." Miss Broadside said as he took him by the hand while the others all carried on. Going through the boys locker room the hall on the opposite side contained the drama class room. "Unfortunately the play being done is Peter Pan."

"Wait a second." Ryan protested as he held up a blue dress that reached his feet and had the same puffy shoulders as Dotty wore. "You can change in the locker."

"I can’t wear this!" Ryan said as she glared at him.

"Gym may not be as important as your other classes but it’s still a class you either pass or flunk." Miss Broadside said as she returned to her class. With reluctant he pealed his clothes off his wet, sticky body and pulled the dress over his head. He was just glad it didn’t have one of those back zippers.

As he stepped barefoot into the gym all the kids laughed at him. He wanted to turn and run back into the locker room, but Miss Broadside grabbed him by the arm. "You’re not going anywhere. We can’t have you dancing with a girl like that. You will dance with Tim instead of Dotty for now on."

Ryan blushed as he bowed to his new partner and took on the teasing as he began dancing. While dancing; however, he found it much easier to be lead in a dance than to lead himself. He was quite happy to.

After class, Ryan changed back into his picture clothes; which had finally dried. He met with Dotty by the lockers as they waited for the class picture to be taken.

"How did you like dancing with Tim?" Arthur teased. "You looked so graceful out there.

"Knock it off," Dotty gave Arthur a shove. "You did think being made fun is was a fun experience for him?"

"Actually," Ryan began with a blushing face. "I did kind of like it."

"Do you think Tim’s cute or something?" David teased.

"Hey!" Ryan shouted. "I didn’t say anything like that."

"You don’t deny it either," Tim added.

"Quiet please," Miss Donovon said as she got the class to settle in together on the floor with small kids up front and tall kids in back. The one in the center front held up a sign with the school and grade names on it. "Let’s do this right for the year book."

"Smile!" The photographer said. "!...2...3... and... SNAP!

The next day it was raining again as Ryan showed up in baggy jeans and a sweat shirt. Miss Broadside stared displeased. "That sort of outfit is good for outside exercises, but not for school on a day like this."

"Does that mean I have to wear a dress again?" Ryan asked. He sounded upside while trying to hide his hope as well. He loved the way the airy it felt and how free he felt when he moved in it. "It’s not that important for square dancing is it?"

"No, but you did dance better with Tim than with Dotty." Miss Broadside said as she could see though Ryan and what he really wanted. "You go get the dress from the drama department and change."

While he left, she exited the gym through another door and called his mother at home from the principal where she explain to Ryan’s parent what happened the previous day as well as today. She also made sure to get back before Ryan had gotten out and began dancing with Tim.

When Ryan got home, his parents were in the living room waiting for him. "Son, we need to talk." Ryan’s dad said as he walked in the room with a guilty look on his face.

"Yes dad?" Ryan said.

"Miss Broadside said you seem to enjoy wearing dresses at school and dancing with boys." His father glared at him. "Is this true?"

"Yes sir?"

"Ryan, is that something wrong with you?" His mother asked. "We tried to raise you the best we knew how and now we find out this. Where did we go wrong?"

"You didn’t do anything wrong, mom." Ryan jumped in. "I ... I just like dresses and find I like guys. It just feels normal and natural to me. Like Wendy said when she got into High School, perhaps it’s hormones."

"But Ryan, you’re a guy." His dad said, unsure how to proceed.

"Why don’t you lay off of Ryan." Wendy said as she came down for dinner. "He’s a little confused but it’s not like he’s on drugs or trying to kill himself."

"I suppose you’re right it could be worst." Ryan’s dad said as he paced back and fourth. "I suppose if you want Wendy’s hand me down’s it’s okay with me. It’s better to have to daughters than a daughter and... well let’s just say it’s better to have two daughters."

"It’s that’s settle let’s sit down to dinner and then we’ll arrange things at the school." Ryan’s mother said as she lead them the table.

"You sure you can handle the teasing you’re in for?" His dad asked.

"I handled it so far, I can handle it more." Ryan said as his parents started the paper work to make him legally female while Ryan got his sisters old clothes added to his wardrobe for a happy future.

 

THE END

 

 

*********************************************
© 2001 by Paul Jutras. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.