You're a Boy? -2- by Melanie Brown

Part 2

“You’re a boy?” asked Sarah incredulously.

I nodded with a shrug.  “Yes. I wasn’t trying to fool you or anything.  People mistake me for a girl a lot.  When Joan referred to me as a girl, she corrected herself, but I guess you missed it.”

Sarah shook her head. “Wow.  That is a shock. No offense, but you seem so much like a girl.”

I smiled slightly.  “None taken. Like I said, I get it a lot. If I’m never going to see the person again, I don’t always bother to correct them.”

Sarah took a deep breath.  “Honestly, I think I’ll find it hard to relate to you as a boy.”

I chuckled. “Do whatever is easiest for you. I’m not going to be insulted if you refer to me as a girl.  I mean, I get it. I’m used to it.”

Grinning, Sarah said, “Well, thanks for letting me know.”

“Sure.  See you tomorrow, “I said cheerfully.

“Later, girl.”  She stopped and said, “This is going to be so hard!”  We both laughed

                    *

“Hey kiddo,” said Dad from his easy chair he sat in t watch TV. “How was your first day at work?  Since you were gone all say I assume they hired you.”

I smiled. “Hired me on the spot. I’m going to be a sales associate.”

Dad turned his head to look back at the TV. “Sounds like a cushy job. That’s what your mother did for years.”

I frowned. “It’s not all that easy.  I’ll be on my feet all day.”

Dad chuckled. “Aww poor baby.” Pointing he asked, “What’s that?”

Feeling puzzled for a moment I held up the package with the shirt in it. “Oh.  This is the uniform we all wear.”

“It’s pink!” he belched out. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” He shook his head.

Mom stuck her head out of the kitchen and smiled at me. “I thought I heard you come in.  How did work go? You didn’t say much in your text.”

I gave Mom a hug. Dad doesn’t normally get hugs. I don’t think he likes them. “I really didn’t have much time, Mom. They kept me pretty busy. But it went well. The other workers seem nice.”

“That’s great, honey,” Mom said with a wide smile.  She pointed at the package I still carried. “What’s that?  Did you buy something?”

I held the package up and said, “Oh, this is the uniform I have to wear. I’ll probably get a couple more, so I’m not doing laundry every night.”

Taking the package from me and studying it, Mom said, “That’s a pretty color.” She handed the package back to me. “Do you want to help me in the kitchen?”

Dad laughed. “Jer, you’ll make somebody a good little wife someday.”

Mom scowled at Dad. “Now Carl, there’s not one thing  wrong with knowing your way around a kitchen.”

Frowning at me, Dad said, “I just don’t understand why you can’t be more like your brother!”

“You want me to join the Navy too?”

Dad smirked. “The Navy gave me a good life for twenty years.” Most of Dad’s Naval career was as a gunner’s mate on ASROC. He could launch a variety of different missiles from the launcher, but the primary weapon was an anti-submarine rocket tipped with a nuclear warhead, which always struck me as a bit of overkill. I’ve heard all his Navy stories a billion times.

I chuckled. “I’m glad Bobby found a career you approve of, Dad. But the military just isn’t for me.”

Dad grunted as he resumed watching the TV.  “Just sayin’.  It’ll make a man out of you.” I rolled my eyes and followed Mom into the kitchen

                    *

“Hey, Cindy,” I said into the phone. I had just sat down at my desk after dinner to start a game session.

“Hey, Jer. What’s up?”

I shrugged at the phone. “Just about to start playing World of Warships.”

Cindy laughed.  “You and your games. Anyway, I’m calling to apologize if I embarrassed you today in front of your co-worker about wearing make-up.”

Chuckling, I said, “No big deal. I mean, it’s not like you haven’t done that before.”

Cindy laughed, “Remember last summer when those boys bought our movie tickets?”

“I still feel bad about fooling them,” I said dourly. “They thought we were girls. Well, you are, but I’m not.”

“You thought it was fun at the time.  We promised them nothing and we got to see some movies for free. What’s the harm? We each got what we wanted.  They got to take a girl to a movie, and we got free movies and snacks.”

I shook my head at the phone. “I think that still constitutes fraud. And there was harm.  It hurt Joey.”

Cindy giggled. “Yeah. You and Joey had major snog fests during the movie. He quit showing up. I always wondered why.”

I could feel tears starting to well up. “Oh, I know why. After that last movie we went to, Joey and I went to the food court and he bought me a soda and a corn dog. It was nice. He was holding my hand, and he talked about going on a real date. I was trying to talk him out of it because I can’t, right?  Anyway, I was shocked to see my parents walking through the mall.  Dad saw Joey holding my hand!” 

I took a breath and continued. “Dad just looked surprised. He never said a word to me, but Joey’s dad worked on one of Dad’s rigs. That’s when Joey stopped showing up. A month later, his family moved to Pecos. I never heard from Joey again.”

“Wow,” said Cindy. “That sucks. You never said anything about that.”

I sighed. “I felt ashamed. He had to move because of me.  I looked it up. He now plays on the Pecos Eagles.  He hated that team.”

“You don’t know if you’re the reason they moved. His dad probably got a better job,” said Cindy earnestly.

I laughed humorlessly.  “In Pecos? But yeah, who knows? Bottom line, I hurt someone, and I don’t want to do it again.”

Cindy laughed. “Are you going to become a monk? Seriously, dude, you’re much too pretty to just hide because someone might get their feelings hurt. You’re entitled to live and be happy.”

“I want to be honest about any future relationships.”

Cindy grunted. “What does that even mean?”

I sighed. “If I don’t go into the military, Dad wants me to find that right girl and get married. I’ve gone out a few times with Bobby-Sue.  She’s nice.”

Chuckling, Cindy said, “She’s nice if you like girls with a chaw in their mouth all the time. And she’s a barrel racer. Do you want to be on the rodeo circuit all the time? Besides, Jer.  Just admit it. You like boys.”

“Now stop saying that. Look, some people have jobs and have to get up early. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay. Just promise me you won’t marry Bobby-Sue,” snickered Cindy.

“Her family’s on vacation this week.”

“Good night, Jerry,” chuckled Cindy.  She disconnected.

I shook my head at the wall. Why does she always say I like boys? That’s so ridiculous.  Joey was a good kisser, though.

                    *

End Part 2

Copyright © 2025 by Melanie Brown