Pride!

The Boy Named Callie Who Wasn't A Boy

"Callie?" I whispered as I saw my little brother put on one of my long friply pink dresses. "What are you doing?" Cal froze in his place and stared at me through the mirror, tears streaking down his face. I knew he had been miserable for months, and months on end even though he didn't tell anyone his true feelings. Slowly he turned to me, blinked to me, whispered to me the truth. 

"Lauren. It's time you knew, I am a girl."

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We were inseparable at birth. We were Callie and Lauren Gusterberg, proud to be in a family. There was dad, a business man with a tie and a stoic face, never seeming to approve of anyone or anything. There was mom, a real sports lady, a fitness trainer super controlling of everyone's looks and making sure we were all fit. There was the youngest sister, Tiffany, a thirteen year old with an attitude, and sass. Then there was me and Callie. Always expected of the best. To be uptight. No nonsense just like dad. Everyone always told me I was the good sibling. I was the best sibling, and deep down, I hated it. 

Everyone made fun of Cal. Everyone knew he was different. He loved dresses at a young age, and would often draw wedding dresses on a piece of paper, and would show it to mommy and daddy like any innocent kid. "Is that what your wife is going to wear?" Mommy would ask. "Oh she would look so pretty in that son!" Daddy would say. Yet, with the blankest stare, Cal would calmly say, "No, I'm going to wear that dress".

In preschool, he'd play dress up with his best friend Charlotte. She'd ask him everytime he'd grab a yellow or a pink dress, "Do you think I'd look good in those?" To that he would smile and reply, "Of course! Do you think I'd look good in these?"

As we got older, mom and dad disapproved in his choices more and more. It first started in third grade when he went to a sleepover with me, Charlotte, and his future girlfriend Bethany. Then, it escalated in seventh grade when he had to fight mom to play the flute. In eighth it got worse because he wanted to dress up as Belle from Beauty and the Beast for Halloween. And then recently. Tenth grade. 

Sure, Cal had made mom and dad happy with dating Bethany. But they disapproved of her being pansexual and passed her off as a bad influence. Then, they found out he got his ears pierced, the piercings being pink metal flowers. 

The fights everyday got worse and worse, leading him to shut almost everyone out. There, I found him in front of my mirror wearing my lacy pink dress for the upcoming winter dance. 

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"Lauren it's time you know I'm a girl", Cal began standing strong holding in a breath for a few seconds before continuing. "I am not your brother, and I never have been. I like pretty dresses, pretty jewelry, and playing the flute. I'm sorry" Cal whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't have told you sooner." A few moments of silence passed before I had responded. 

"Cal. I don't care what mom and dad say. You can be a beautiful woman." Callie stopped and stared in awe at me. "Sure, I like dating boys, but if you want to be a girl dating a girl, it won't change my love for you. Mom and dad are stupid for not realizing how amazing you are. You're extremely talented Callie, especially at the flute. If you want to be my sister, then I have two sisters. It won't change anything because I love you."

She stood tall in the high heels, and ran her fingers in her long black hair. 

"What about Tiffany?" Callie muttered. 

"Tiff doesn't have to know if you don't want her too. Besides, it's 2018, she probably has a gay friend or two." I responded chuckling. "I think I've seen her making oogly eyes at that Daria girl anyhow."

Callie rubbed her eyes, tears falling, and rushed forward hugging me tightly sobbing in mshoulder. 

"Thank you Lauren! I love you so much!"

I smiled. 

"I love you to, wether you choose to be my brother or sister."