"Angela," Mary Elizabeth called down the hall, "Sweetheart, we need to get going if you're riding with me. I know you don't want to take the bus on your first day of school as a girl, but that's what's going to happen if you don't hurry up. I've got that meeting this morning, I gotta go."
"Coming mom," Angelo replied as he picked up a pair of black, fur-collared mid-calf suede boots from beside his bed.
He checked his face and hair in the mirror one last time. He picked up a bottle of perfume, Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift, and applied several spritzes to his hair and body as he grabbed a hat and scarf from his closet. Tossing the perfume bottle on the bed, he rushed out of his room and hurried down the hall.
"I just have to get my shoes on and I'll be ready to go," he told Mary Elizabeth as he plopped down on to the couch and began to slip his freshly painted, metallic silver toes into a pair of smooth, white, knee-high socks.
A single tear moistened each of Mary Elizabeth's eyes and a lump formed in her throat, as she watched Angelo. He had entered the room wearing thick black winter leggings underneath a mauve colored suede skirt that came two inches above his knees and a fluffy, multicolored pastel sweater with a large, butterfly on the front.
The butterfly was just noticeably pushed forward due to the "AA" cup training bra and tiny breast forms he had on underneath.
As he sat there, one leg crossed over the other, ziping his boot up the side, Mary Elizabeth was overcome with conflicted emotion.
On one hand, she was excited for Angelo. She could see that he was a picture of beautiful femininity sitting there.
With brunette lowlights in his, otherwise light blonde hair and shoulder length extensions, no stranger on the street would ever question whether they are looking at a boy or girl. Taking in his hair, along with a hint of mascara and blush, new ear piercings and the outfit, there's no way they wouldn't believe they were looking at a girl.
But, on the other hand, these weren't strangers that he was about to reveal himself to. These were the same classmates that all knew him as Angelo - the odd, feminine acting, presumably gay, boy. So, she was very worried over what was about to happen.
Would his classmates accept him as Angela? Or would they turn on him, reject him, mocking and laughing at the change?
With the boots now on his feet, Angelo stood up. He flashed a girly smile at his foster mom as he adjusted his hair, pulling some of the long ends in front of his shoulders.
He then boldly proclaimed, "Mom, I'm ready to begin the first day of the rest of my life. I decree that from today forward, I will forever be your daughter. Angelo is gone for good and only Angelica remains."
"Angelica?"
"Yeah, mom. I decided I like that better than Angela. It sounds more . . . I'm not sure exactly what to call it, I just like it better. It's more . . . Me."
With that, he moved towards Mary Elizabeth and she embraced him in a warm lingering hug as she began to speak, "Angelica, I've waited for this day for so long. I can't even begin to express how happy for you I am. I know you've been waiting your whole life and you're beside yourself with excitement, but I want you to remember that not everyone at school will be as happy about this as you and I are. Just remember everything we talked about last night and don't let them discourage you. Okay?"
Angelo picked up a light pink knit scarf and matching knit hat. He pulled the hat down over the top half of his ears and then began to wrap the scarf around his neck.
"Yeah mom, I know. Trust me. I can handle it. Besides, everyone in my dance class already sees me as a girl. This won't be that big of a leap," Angelo assured his foster mom.
He then pulled on a puffy, girly ski jacket and flipped the back of his hair out from inside the coat with his hands before picking up his brand new, unmistakably feminine bookbag and heading towards the door.
"Wait," Mary Elizabeth called out. "I can't let you go without documenting your first full day as a girl. I've gotta take photos."
*****
Arriving at the arts school, Angelo stepped out of Mary Elizabeth's car and straightened his skirt while looking around, scanning the area in front of the building.
Several other students were hanging out in small groups, but he didn't see any of his friends yet. That was to be expected though, as none of the buses were due to arrive for another few minutes.
Angelo retrieved his book bag from the passenger seat of the car and leaned in, giving Mary Elizabeth one last kiss. He bid her goodbye before closing the door.
This is it, he told himself, the point of no return.
Pulling in a deep breath and letting it out, Angelo took his first step across the snow-covered ground, towards the front door.
Behind him, Mary Elizabeth still sat in the same spot, watching the person who was now her daughter, slowly walk away. She knew Angelo was walking into a potential lion's den, and she feared for her child's emotional and physical safety, but she knew they he would have to handle this alone. She couldn't be there in the school all day to protect him.
Mary Elizabeth continued sitting there until Angelo disappeared into the school, unable to drive off. She was overcome with tears of both joy and fear.
She sat there sobbing, as the first bus pulled up in front of her.
Inside the school, Angelo walked down the wide, brightly lit corridor and took the stairs to the second floor. He reached his locker just as students began to stream out of the bus and head towards the building.
None of them were aware of the "new" student that would be joining their classes that day. No one knew, aside from his mom, his best friend Tanya, and Ms. Jenkins, the school administrator.
At that moment Angelo's phone chirped and he checked it, finding a message from Tanya.
*best of luck on your first day of school as Angelica I hope it all goes better than you expected no matter what does happen, just remember that I'm here for you I only wish that i could be there to support you in person either way ive got your back call me when you get home*
*****
"Class," Mr. Harris called out, trying to get the attention of the rowdy classroom. "We have a new student... Settle down. I know you guys are all excited to be back from Christmas break, you all missed each other. I get it, but it's time for class. In your seats and attention up here... Kylie, Rachel, Brianna, put your cellphones away before they become mine. Dontae, take your seat...Now, as I was saying, we have a new student this semester. This is Angelica."
She pointed at Angelo with both hands. "I hope you guys will do everything you can to help her get adjusted here and make her feel welcome. Angelica, there's an empty seat towards the back, next to Eric."
When Angelo heard the name Eric, a nervousness swept across his body, as he looked towards the back of the room, to where the seat was, He quickly saw that it was indeed his friend.
This was going to be a real test. Would Eric recognize him? And if he did, would he expose Angelo?
With these questions swimming in the back of his head, Angelo made his way to the seat. He could see that all the eyes in the room were on him. A couple boys on the far side of the room whispered to each other as they intently watched Angelo approach the empty chair.
"Hi," Eric introduced himself. He then pushed his textbook to the center of the table between them and added, "You can share my book until they get you one. You're going to love it here at the arts school."
Angelo removed his coat and placed it on the back of the chair before taking a seat. Just as he sat down, out of the corner of his eye he saw a look of recognition suddenly flash across Eric's face.
"Oh my gawd," Eric whispered as he leaned over. "Angelo?! Is that you?"
Angelo avoided eye contact with Eric, but he did form a puzzled expression on his face before nervously, almost unconvincingly answering, "Who's Angelo?"
Luckily for Angelo, Eric seems to have bought his answer, yet throughout the rest of that class, Eric continued to steal glances at "Angelica".
He was sure that this girl sitting beside him was Angelo. It made sense to him since Angelo hadn't been on the bus this morning and he hadn't seen him at school yet. Not to mention how much this girl's facial features totally matched Angelo's, but if she says she's not, then maybe she isn't. But if she's not, he thought, why does she look so much like him? Could they be related? A cousin maybe?
Either way, Eric decided they before the end of the day he was going to find out for sure.
*****
Later that morning, as Angelo walked into dance class, Eric pointed towards the door. "Right there. See what I mean, Cecilia?"
At that moment all six girls in the group simultaneously turned and looked towards the door.
"Oh my---you're right," Cecilia exclaimed. "The nose, the shape of her face, those eyes. That definitely looks like it could be Angelo."
"Exactly what I thought. Let's convince him to come clean," Eric suggested, standing up.
"No," Cecilia quickly replied, grabbing Eric's hand. "Let it go. If that is Angelo, just give him some space. He'll talk to us about it when he or she's ready."