Chapter 8: Revelation

CHAPTER 8: REVELATION

THE CONCLUSION TO *WINNING IS SO SWEET*

An empty silence hung over the Ryevalley family room like a graveyard at midnight. Sherry became a little concerned when she saw a tear running down Deedee's cheek. Deedee got up and walked over to the window, and sat on the windowsill. After a little bit, Deedee got up and said that she was going downstairs to check on something, and that she would be back in a while. Sherry and Mazie said that they were going to watch anime music videos on YouTube.

Quite sometime later, Deedee returned to the family room. Sherry noticed that Deedee's cheeks were both wet from crying, so she muted the TV and said---

" I see that you have been crying, I take it that Leonard is not coming, that's a real shame. "

Mazie said, " I do not think that Leonard is coming, either. Bummer ! "

" I know, but *someone is here* that can play Chibi Chess. ", replied Deedee.

She gestured with her hand, and in walked a pretty, nicely dressed girl about fourteen or fifteen years old.

She had on a pretty, styled sundress. The sundress had medium blue triangles of fabric covering her flat chest. Blue straps went from the top of the triangles, over her shoulders, and criss-crossed in back. Attached to the triangles of fabric just under the bust were three layers of dress fabric, in an empire waist style, making the dress look like a 'maternity dress'. The first layer was white with a pale blue hue, and went from under the bust, to where her natural waist would have been. The next layer of fabric was white with a repeating gray 'plus symbol (+)' pattern throughout, beginning from the natural waist, down to just below her hips. The third layer was sheer blue chiffon, flaring out like a ruffled skirt, with the hemline of the dress at the top of her knees. She had shapely bare legs, and wore white anklets, and white and pale blue girl's soft shoes. Worn over the dress was a small white vest, unbuttoned. Plastic pink star clip-on earrings adorned her ears, and pink lip gloss and pale blue fingernail polish completed her look. Her short blonde hair was styled in soft waves. Sherry thought that the girl looked familiar, but she could not remember ever seeing her in the neighborhood before.

" Did you just show up today ? ", asked Sherry.

The pretty girl nodded her head, Yes.

" Hi ! My name is Sherry Ormsby, and I am glad to meet you, and glad that you came to play with us today. ", said Sherry.

" And my name is Mazie VanDeGraff, and you sure are cute. Can I be your friend ? ", said Mazie, as she walked over to the new girl.

" I already know both of you. ", said the pretty girl, *using Leonard's voice !*

Sherry and Mazie looked at one another with puzzled looks, then looked again at the pretty, new girl.

*OMG ! OMG !* Each girl was thinking to themselves, " Was this pretty girl **REALLY** Leonard ? "

" It's really me", explained Leonard, " I know now what you girls have been doing these last three weeks, dressing in cute outfits, doing girl stuff, and all that jazz, but I am not going to let ANYTHING, even doing girl stuff, stop me from winning. ! "

" Yes, that's Leonard", thought Sherry, " That winner-take-all attitude proves it. "

" Let's draw for the first round", announced Deedee, " And Leonard, does it bother you if we listen to something that is completely different from what we usually listen to ? "

" That's O.K., go ahead. I feel completely different today, and for some reason, it feels wonderful. " said Leonard.

" We will share a girl's secret with you, Leonard; Sherry and I both love classical music. I'm going to play ' The Nutcracker Suite ' for you to see if you like it, too? " said Deedee.

As the beautiful music of the Nutcracker Suite Ballet filled the family room, Deedee played Mazie, and won, and as a rematch of two weeks ago, Leonard played Sherry, and won. Much to everyone's surprised, instead of yelling obnoxiously, Leonard politely thanked Sherry for playing with a pretty smile. The final round was a rematch of one week age, with Deedee playing Leonard. This time, it was Deedee who had curious thoughts racing through mind.

. . . . Leonard is so pretty, he should have been born a girl . . . .

. . . . This is Leonard, but without his offensive masculine bad attitude, Leonard minus his toxic male attributes . . . .

. . . . Leonard's personality today is just like the ' Albert Einstein ' of my dream, but as a cute female. . . . ? . . . . would that be my ideal date . . . . ? . . . .

As the " Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy " was playing, Deedee suddenly heard---

" Checkmate, Deedee", Leonard said gently as she again smiled sweetly, "Winning is so sweet, and it feels even sweeter today. I feel like a friendly, happy, playful, carefree teenage girl. "

The girls looked at one another in abject surprise, blushed, then they all let loose a loud, long laugh.

After putting away the Chibi Chess pieces and chess boards, Deedee asked Leonard if he was going to Taco Bell?

" Yes, I'm going. ", said Leonard.

" Do you want to use the bathroom again to change back ? ", asked Deedee.

" NO ! Definitely not ! I'm going like this, this is my ' lucky outfit '. I will be wearing this, or something similar to this outfit, from now on when we play. ", replied Leonard, " I bought it on sale at Target, ya know!"

Mazie blushed, then grabbed Sherry's arm and giggled, then whispered---

" Does Leonard know that if she goes out dressed like that, everyone will see a cute, playful teen girl, and not the 'usual' Leonard ? "

" It's O.K. Mazie, I do not think that Leonard is going to mind that happening ! ", Sherry explained.

As the four friends were walking to Taco Bell, Sherry quietly took Mazie's hand and began walking with her, hand-in-hand. When Deedee saw this, she quietly took Leonard's hand. She turned her head to Deedee and gave her a startled, then a confused look. She then smiled at Deedee. Just then a pick-up truck drove by from behind, with three collage-aged boys in the cab. One of the boys shouted out the window as they drove by---

" WOO HOO ! Look ! Girls with girls ! *ROCK ON !* "

At the Taco Bell, the counter person asked the group if the four GIRLS wanted to order together, or separately. After the four friends got their food and sat down, the older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Wallingford, came in. They came over to say " Hello ", and Mr. Wallingford said---

" I see that Leonard is not with you girls today. Who is the new girl with you ? What is your name ? "

The new girl stammered, " My name is . . . . ah . . . . La . . . . Le . . . . Len . . . duh . . . . you see . . . . . "

"*Her name is **Noel**,* she is just a little bit shy ! " Deedee quickly broke in to cover for the new girl.

Noel just nodded, Yes.

" N-o-e-l ? ", Mr. Wallingford said slowly, " Noel ! Such a pretty name, to go with such a pretty girl ! "

" I like your pretty layered dress, " said Mrs. Wallingford.

During the meal, Mazie commented---

" Today had been so much fun. I wish that Len . . . .er . . . . I mean Noel could be like this and be with us every Sunday. "

" Come to think of it ", offered Deedee, " If you want to, Noel, you can keep your 'lucky outfits' and accessories in my room, and change when you get to my house. That way you do not have to carry a backpack with you, like you did today. "

" That's very kind of you. ", said Noel.

" And Noel, " offered Sherry, " I think that you look very nice today. What you picked out is so pretty! However, I also think that you would look good in other similar dresses and outfits. You do not have to worry about showing your bare legs, you look great. I will bring a dress that I think you would look good in next time, for you to try on. "

Mazie offered, " I know a web site that you might like, Noel, it's called 'Den of Angels' . It's all about ABJD's, Asian Ball Jointed Dolls.(#) It's real good hard core girl stuff ! "

Much to everyone's surprise, a tear began to run down Noel's cheek, and her pink lips began to quiver.

" I was so afraid that you girls would be angry with me, and kick me out of your group for dressing like a girl, and for winning, and for ' beating you at your own game.' But now you are not just tolerating me, but accepting me, and helping me ! ", cried Noel, " I just do not understand what is going on today. "

" You are so much nicer now, displaying so-called 'girls' personality traits ", observed Sherry, " and it seems that you are beginning to understand how good girls win. "

" You are seeing *the **REAL** me* ", said Noel through her tears and with her voice quivering, " I - I did all that boy stuff because I have always been told that is what boys *HAVE* to do. But that is not what I *WANTED* to do. It seems like part of me has always wanted to be a girl, and part of me has always wanted to do girl stuff. I tried to bury it under all that boy stuff. I was so scared to reveal that I'm actually a girl inside, but today I did it to win ! "

" We don't have to play Chibi Chess every Sunday, or every time that we meet to play. If you want to do girl stuff, you can always do girl stuff with us, any time that you want to. ", proclaimed Deedee, " Isn't that so ? "

The other two girls nodded their heads in agreement---Yes !

" It may be that we will at some time in the future have to tell your mom and dad about part of you wanting to be a teenage girl, but the four of us will figure something out before that time comes. ", said Deedee.

" I want to laugh and cry at the same time ! ", exclaimed Noel, as more tears flowed, and wet both her cheeks and hands.

Deedee put both her arms around the softly crying Noel.

" Noel crying her heart out proves that the newly revealed 'girl part' of her personality is genuine. " thought Sherry to herself.

" Hey, Noel, don't cry. " implored Mazie, " You can have my dessert and the toy that came with my kid's meal, if that will help you feel better. "

As she held Noel in her arms, Deedee sensed that something profound regarding Noel had just happened. Something was 'born again' and released, something for the better that would forever affect her relationship with Noel. Sherry and Mazie sensed something, too. Sherry took her hand and gently enveloped Mazie's hand, then leaned over and whispered something in Mazie's ear, then quickly but gently kissed Mazie on the cheek.

After a little while, and after Noel regained her composure, she looked over at Deedee with wet eyes and face, and said, " I will share a girl's secret with you, I have always loved ballet, ballet music, and Christmas music. Moreso that all that sports stuff!"

A few moments later, Noel began to dry her face with a napkin. Then Deedee took a big sip from her soda cup, but since it was almost empty, it only made a loud gurgling sound. Everyone laughed and giggled at Deedee. She got up to refill her soda cup from the soda fountain. As she was filling her cup, she heard Mazie exclaim---

" Ya got taco sauce on your upper lip, Noel. It looks like a mustache, ya must be turning back into a boy ! "

What followed was another round of loud laughter. As Deedee turned around and looked at Noel, tears now started to stream down her cheeks, but they were tears of joy.

" Who would have thought that my obnoxious friend---

---Leonard, the pompous, bombastic, snooty male--- "

thought Deedee,

" ---would turn out to be a princess---

---Princess Noel. "

That was very courageous and loving of Noel to show me the milder girl part of her personality. I will always treasure my friendship and relationship with Leonard---now Noel---Norwood. There may be plenty of troubles and problems ahead, uncertainty with everyone's parents and how they will take this revelation, and with Noel and everyone going back to school this fall. But Leonard has always been a good competitor and a positive winner. I'm sure that Noel will also be the same. "

Deedee put the lid back on her drink, as Noel was now laughing at something Sherry had just said. She walked back to the table thinking---

" Now each one of us can truly say---

**' Winning is so sweet !** ' "

( THE END )

Copyright 2009 by Girls With Big Eyes, LLC. All rights reserved.