Life Imitating Art, from Drama to Myself

Chapter 26: Gearing up for full-time

We caught up with Erma on Saturday afternoon to help her with the costumes. She had completed ours and was still sowing the other 2. We didn't have much we could help with, but she appreciated the company. We decided to meet up next weekend for final fittings and to make sure we had everything for the party the Saturday after. On the way to my place on the bus, Ashlee had an idea.

"I'm thinking next week we need to try to speak to the rest of the people on your list."

"I think we need to talk to most of them yeah."

"With that in mind, I was thinking Monday lunch I come with you to the courts for basketball."

"Ok, I think it would be fun for you to join us, I've enjoyed spring netball this week."

"Yes, that might be fun but not what I meant. I'm thinking we tell the guys together. We will need to give Chris and Ant a heads up, as well as anyone else who is up there normally."

"I think Terry has been playing recently and Greg has joined us a few times."

"Great, we'll ask them to join us too. I think we need to tell them in one go. I know it's a risk, there's a lot of them and it will be hard to keep it quiet for a couple of weeks, but I think it will cover a large group of people, and it will help you as the weather gets warmer."

This was a big step; I would be telling almost 15 guys at once and I wasn't sure if they would all be fine with me being a girl. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean I don't know how they will react and if they won't tell everyone else."

"I understand how you feel. I'm a little worried about that too but I think if we can get most of them on board, I think it's highly likely we will, then I think you'll be safer once everyone knows."

"Peer pressure can be useful."

"So, what do you think?"

"I don't know if we will have enough time to get things ready for Monday but I'm open to the idea. Maybe we should talk to the other girls, and I'd like to see what Brea and her friends think."

"OK, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday then. I'm happy to see if some of the other girls would like to come too."

"Great, can you message the girls and I'll chat to Brea. We might have a plan in place before we get home."

The girls thought it was a good idea despite the risk and thought it might be fun to watch the game after I came out. Brea loved the idea and said she'd get Tina and Jill to come too. We decided to ask Greg, Terry, and Ant on Monday to help with the plan and then we would decide the best day to proceed. Once again that night I had the pitchfork dream but this time I had friends helping me escape and sending the mob the wrong way. It ended up being like a scene from an old British comedy or many other things where I would run into one door, then the mob would follow, I'd come out one door and they would come out another and as the chase went on, we would end up going in and out of so many different doors that I was very confusing and funny with no logic. I woke up with a start as things got weird, I think I woke Ashlee during the dream.

"Hay cutie, are you ok? Did you have another nightmare?

"Yes, it was the old horror movie thing again. At least this time I had help to avoid the mob."

"I'm sorry," she leaned over and hugged me, "do you need a drink or anything? We can talk about it if you want."

"I'm ok, I'm sorry I woke you up."

"It's fine cutie. I'm here for you however I can help. If you think we are going too fast, we can give it some more time and tell people in smaller groups."