Revelations Begin Story Arc

REVELATIONS BEGIN STORY ARC

(Extracted from Wildflowers Manga Panels #6 - #79)

During Tony Andrews childhood and adolescence, the signs were plainly all there to see. It's just nobody paid any attention to them. One day when Tony was about 5 years old, his father caught him standing in front of a full length mirror, unclothed, and holding up an adult dress to try and see what he would look like wearing it. Quite some time later, Dad comes into his room, only to find Tony dressed in a fantasy princess gown, and playing with Barbie and Ken dolls. When Tony was in the third grade, at a meeting with the school Principal, Dad was told that Toni was his daughter, and that she corrects anybody at school who would refer to her as a "boy". When Tony became a young teenager, and when he entered the fifth grade, he insisted to the gym instructor that he not have to be forced to play basketball, soccer, or baseball with the boys, but to learn and practice gymnastics with the girls. And finally, about the time Tony turned 14, when he was alone in his room, and nobody was around, he would change into and wear a girl's shirt and leggings. Leggings with a flower print pattern, to boot ! The gender signs were all there, but were ignored, denied, or repressed by family, friends, school, and just about everyone else.

Sometime after Tony was born, his parents divorced. Tony stayed with his dad, in a small rural village in British Columbia. However, by the third grade, it was determined that Tony needed to be put into a school for gifted children and students. By the time that Tony would enter the fifth grade, he had moved from living with his dad, to living with his mom in Calgary, Alberta. This so that Tony could enter Bishop McNealy Jr. High School, an academy that has a program for gifted and special learners. He was accepted, and would begin at the fifth grade level, but the advanced program curriculum would be geared to much higher academic achievements. However, living with mom would take some adjustments, as mom has always been a bit wacky and unpredictable. Nevertheless, Tony settles in his new home, and awaits the start of school in a few weeks.

On his way to the mall to buy school supplies, Tony becomes distracted by his own troubling thoughts, and absentmindedly rides his bike into the street in front of an oncoming truck. He is pulled back and off his bike by another boy who just happened to be at the crosswalk. This rescuer boy is named Mitch, and as it turns out, Tony is offered friendship for the first time in years. Tony accepts, and the two begin a memorable friendship. Tony and Mitch will enter school together as friends. Unfortunately, also before the beginning of the school year, Tony is accosted and beat up by the soon to be school bully, Kyle, and his toadies. Tony comes away all black and blue, but is determined not to let something like this affect or spoil his new school life.

With less than a week before school starts, Tony visits the school's competitive swimming pool. There, he relaxes in the pool, and tries to get his mind straight about his academic and social future. Yet another would be friend introduces herself to Tony at poolside. Her name is Lexi, and she is a competitive swimmer at the school. Wow, they both have something in common, they both like to swim. Thus begins for Tony something that he has never experienced up to this point in his life, a tentative friendship with a girl his own age, and with a few common interests to share between the two of them.

A couple of days later, that night Tony has a rather vivid dream. They are a teenage girl with bright red hair, and brimming with self-confidence about their Gender Identity and concerns. Later, when Tony visits Lexi at her house, per chance, he describes the dream to Lexi. Lexi is quite surprised at the thrust of the dream, but sorta knew all along it was what Tony thinks of themselves inside, mentally and emotionally, whether Tony would admit to that or not. It becomes so obvious to Lexi. Inside, Tony is a girl. Now someone else knows, namely Lexi, and she does not ignore or denigrate Tony for feeling as such. An awkward silence follows, with Tony thinking to himself that he must have upset or angered Lexi something fierce. Tony misjudges Lexi's silence, and takes it as a signal to leave. He goes to do so, apologizing for telling Lexi the dream of being a girl. Lexi stops Tony from going by embracing him from behind. She tells Tony never to say that they are sorry for who they are inside. Tony is stunned into silence. What now ? Lexi simply states the obvious---**"Best friends forever, of course !"** Tony finally does leave, but not before sternly telling Lexi not to breath a word to anyone about his gender dilemma.

Fearing unfounded reprisals from Lexi, Tony breaks off all contact with her. He mopes around his home, or is out riding his bicycle, until the first day of school. That first school day begins with an orientation meeting. Afterward, Tony runs into Mitch, who wonders out loud why Tony has been isolating themselves? Well, Tony can't do that at school, after all. And so Lexi finds Tony, with Tony apologizing for hiding from her. Lexi states to never apologize to her about any personal matter that comes up and causes Tony to act weird.

Lexi guides Tony to the school's supply room, for the both of them to obtain a working set of their school uniforms. The female school uniform is a cami and a white business jacket combination, with the school emblem logo over the heart. That is worn with a green on green plaid mini-skirt. The male uniform is a dress shirt, over that a white men's business jacket, worn with dress pants. A black tie is paired with the dress shirt. Lexi and Tony are at the counter, as they order up their uniforms according to their body size and shape. Lexi is excited that she gets to wear a 'sexy Catholic school uniform'. SO CUTE ! Wearing a school uniform is something that she has never had to do up till now. Both of the friends receive their uniform parts in green plastic sleeves packed into a cardboard box. Did a mix-up occur just now ? What gender of uniform did Tony receive ? Won't know for sure until he opens the box. Tony places the box inside his backpack, and leaves the counter, with Lexi right behind.

However, this first day of school does not end on a happy note. Getting ready to leave the school building, unfortunately, Tony and Lexi run into Kyle the Bully, and his toadies. They escort Tony and Lexi outside onto the lawn of the campus. Once there, one of the toadies grabs Lexi from behind, as Kyle bellows out that he will relieve Tony of his backpack and it's contents, as his 'protection fee'. This Kyle does, but when he opens Tony's backpack, he gets the surprise of the week. The school uniform that was given to Tony was ***the girl's school uniform !!!*** "What have we here ?", quips Kyle, holding up the mini-skirt. Tony states that it must have been some sort of mistake. Kyle says that must make you, Tony, **A GIRL !**  Tony retaliates by saying that if Kyle says that again, he will be so very sorry. "YOU DAMN GIRL !" Tony slams his forehead into Kyle's nose, bloodying it. Kyle plants a hefty fist right into Tony's face, also bloodying it. Tony buckles like a wet noodle, as Lexi delivers a 'karate black belt' style high kick to the back of Kyles neck. Kyle is down for the count, joining his toadies who are all out cold.

Tony and Lexi retire to a picnic bench on campus, as Lexi tries to clean up Tony's bloody face. Lexi wants to know why Tony has a girl's school uniform ? Tony quickly changes the subject, asking Lexi where did she learn to high kick like that ? Teenage girl's defensive course. Tony then quickly leaves, lest any more questions come up. Lexi calls Tony at his home that evening, but Tony only says that nothing is wrong, and hangs up. He then goes back to staring at the girl's school uniform that he has placed on a table, with himself sitting on a nearby chair.

Seemingly hours go by in abject silence. Finally, no longer able to control his emotions or thoughts, Tony gets up and begins talking to and berating himself---

"Just what is this uniform acquisition supposed to mean ?

What kind of sick games are the godz playing with me ?

Why? Why do I have this? Why?

(As Tony holds up the uniform for a closer look, a spark of denial ignites in his unbalanced mind, and begins to glow.)

I'm not supposed to be this human abomination !

I'm not a freakin' girl !

SO WHY DO I HAVE THIS ?

It doesn't matter ! I'm better than this ! I'm better than YOU (the girl inside Tony) !
Even if...NO...I'm not a GIRL...This doesn't make me such...Even if I could wear this...It's not mine...It never will be mine...Because I'm not...and never can be...a...a...real girl...I'm just keeping it clean (Tony puts the girl's uniform in a cabinet drawer)...I'm not ACTUALLY keeping it...no matter how much I actually want to............"

Next day at school in the hallways, Lexi comes upon Tony, and asks him if the supply room attendant screwed up his uniform order, too ? **"NO !!!"** Tony only says that he forgot to wear the uniform to school, and will obtain a male loaner uniform. Lexi confesses that she was given the boy's school uniform yesterday. Imagine that ! Lexi asks Tony if they switched his uniform  ? Tony only mumbles a barely audible "yeah". Later, after school classes have ended, Mitch and Lexi confront Tony as to why he is always in a bad mood lately ? He responds. Bad sleep. Bad dreams. New school. Kyle. Take your pick. Tony then reveals that he can't freakin' sleep unto his mind calms down. And his mind won't calm down until his body is bloody exhausted. Mitch and Lexi tell Tony that they have the perfect solution to his troubles, as they lead him to the school's swimming pool. Once inside, Lexi announces to all the swim team members, as well as the captain of the swim team, Vic Stronarch---

"Here ***she*** (Tony) is guys, she (Tony) is all yours !"

Vic, being the super jock that he is, wants to do a swim challenge immediately with Tony. Tony changes into the male team's official swim trunks, and promptly beats Vic by a country mile. Vic is forced to 'eat humble pie' as he declares that Tony is of this moment an official member of the school's swim team ! Afterward, Mitch mentions to Lexi if she realizes that she referred to Tony as "here she is" when we first walked into the pool area ? Did I, counters Lexi.

(The End of the Revelations Begin Story Arc)

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For the next story arc, click on the Anger and Denial Story Arc title.