Christine XIII: The Mysterious Stranger

Christmas had never been so special to me. I got clothes, clothes, and more clothes. There were a few pieces of jewelry, a little make-up kit, and CLOTHES. I got four new skirts, five blouses, three sweaters, and two of the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. There was even some underwear, which Mom said Dad had helped pick out. Somehow I thought that meant that he was coming around, but he made it very clear that he hadn’t changed his attitude, but he knew I wouldn’t wear what he wanted to get for me. I thanked him anyway, and so did Mom. Getting clothing for Christmas was not new to me. On the very tight budget we’d experienced for the past two years I was used to getting as many necessities for Christmas as I did toys and games, but it was different now. I could remember last year and the year before as I tried to hide my disappointment as I opened packages with shirts, pants and underwear. Now I was thrilled, and Mom told me later that Dad had noticed. She told me that I needed to be patient, that he was filing away in his mind every tidbit of evidence he saw in our day to day living, and that he was becoming more convinced even if he didn’t show it. I wasn’t so sure, but I did have to admit that life with my dad was becoming more livable.

I think the most special gift was the smallest: a very small inconspicuous box from Josh. When I opened it, I found the most beautiful, daintiest diamond necklace and earring set I had ever seen. He was quick to tell me that the diamonds weren’t real, but it didn’t matter to me if they’d been lumps of granite. The stones were set in sterling silver, which was shaped and engraved to resemble flowers and leaves. “Now I’ve got to get my ears pierced,” I told Mom triumphantly.
“Julia can do it,” Mom said. “Actually I think she’s doing Gail this afternoon, so you can get yours done today too if you want.” Of course I wanted, and I did. I won’t bother to tell about it because I discovered that what I’d expected to be a major event was nothing at all: almost no pain, and so quick that it was over almost as soon as it had begun.

Mom told me that she had wanted to get me a winter jacket for under the tree as well but just didn’t get around to it. So after Christmas we took advantage of the sales. I got both a ski jacket and a long coat - a very dressy one. I was so happy, and my days as an unhappy little boy who didn’t fit seemed gone forever.

I was still somewhat disappointed though. As fabulous as my Christmas had been, I would have given it all up cheerfully for one small piece of paper: a note or card or something from my dad telling me that my castration had been scheduled. I had told both my parents many times when asked that that was what I really wanted for Christmas. Their reaction had always been “There’s lots of time to worry about that later, dear.” To me it was urgent, but they obviously didn’t agree.

Now that we were next door neighbors, Gail and I were inseparable. We almost always slept together at her house or mine, and we exchanged clothes just like the sisters we’d always wished we had been. Dad was beginning to have a problem with us sleeping together as we got older, but Mom, Uncle Dan and Aunt Julia overruled him. “That’s fine for you,” I heard him tell Uncle Dan one day. “You’re not the one losing your son.”
“I’m also not the one gaining a pretty great daughter,” Uncle Dan answered. “You have to get over this, John. Just imagine how hard it’s been for Christine, and she’s managing very well. Enjoy her. She’s absolutely sweet.” But Dad couldn’t do any more than tolerate the entire situation. Meanwhile, I saw puberty looming and I was starting to get worried. What if we couldn’t convince him? What if he allowed me to develop the way Josh was starting to? On Josh, puberty looked pretty great. He was rapidly becoming an adonis. But when I pictured the same muscles and shapely shoulders on myself, I wanted to cry.

Before I had time to dwell on much of anything, the school year was almost over and I was having my ninth birthday. Nothing much had changed except that I was more comfortable with being female than ever. The depression and frustration of a year ago was just a dim memory now, and my wardrobe had grown to the point that I could wear almost any style, any color, that I chose. From time to time I was encouraged when Dad would make some comment that I “look nice,” but that was as far as he was prepared to go in the concession department. Dr. Reynolds continued to ask if he should start a search for a surgeon who would perform an orchiectomy, but the answer was always the same: “Go ahead if it’ll make you happy, but you’re wasting your time. No one is going to castrate my son until I am convinced that he shouldn’t have been a boy in the first place. ”

I did get one birthday present though, the full significance of which wouldn’t be evident to anyone for a year. “You have a mystery guest coming to your party, Peanut,” Dad said with that mischievous grin of his that I saw far too seldom these days.
“Yeah? Who?” I pumped.
“It wouldn’t be a mystery if I told you, would it?” he said, and then he would say no more. I would have to wait until the party was pretty well winding down and everyone but Josh and Amanda had gone home to find out. Then the doorbell rang and a man I didn’t know with a heavy German accent was ushered in.

“This is Mr. Marks,” Dad said. “Mr. Marks, these wild partiers are Christine, Gail, Amanda, Adam and Josh.”
“Ah, yes,” the man said. “I have already met Josh and Amanda, and I have been anxious to meet the other two. Christine, I know you don’t know me, but I have seen you several times.”
“You have?” I said, puzzled.
“Yes indeed,” he said. “I watched you and Josh dance in Florida, and I heard you sing. I have attended several of your dance recitals and I’ve been very impressed. Would you like to take singing lessons with my band?”
“Your... your band?” I had completely forgot what Uncle Robert had said about the man who had liked our singing, but now it all came back to me.

Mr. Marks explained that he was quite well known in Europe, that he was always on the lookout for new young talent to develop, not so much to make stars but just to develop talent where he saw it, and then let nature take its course. “I will be here for the summer,” he said. “I would love to work with you and your friend as a sing and dance duo if you’re both willing. By the time I go back to Germany in the fall we will all know each other better and we should know if we want to pursue it further. There will be no cost to you or your parents, and I think we can have a lot of fun.”

I looked at my parents. I could hardly speak. “Can I?” I said anxiously.
“If it’s something you want to do,” Mom answered. “But don’t you think you should ask Josh?”
I didn’t have to, and I said so. I could tell by the stars in his eyes that he was all for it. But to confirm my suspicions, he gave a quick nod and a wide grin. “ When do we start?” I said excitedly.
“Not so fast,” Dad said as only fathers can say. “There’s gonna be a cost. You two have a pretty heavy schedule already this summer, what with clogging and dance recitals. Something is gonna have to give.”

I think I knew Dad was right, but give me a break, ok? I was nine years old. In fact I hadn’t even been nine for a full day yet. I had all the optimism, all the invincibility of all nine year old’s. I could do anything and everything. “We can handle it, Dad,” I said.
“I’m afraid your father is right,” Mr. Marks said. “If you agree to my proposition there will be road trips, perhaps even public performances. There simply won’t be time for you to be doing a lot of other things this summer. Think of it as sort of a music camp. You will be mine for the summer, and I am a rather jealous master.”

I felt my world crumbling before me. This seemed like the chance of a lifetime and Mom agreed; but to give up dance club and clogging would be a huge sacrifice. We had so been looking forward to a summer of dancing with people we knew, in front of audiences all over the state. We had worked really hard all winter and we were ready. We were good and we knew it. Actually it would be the first time in my young life that I had the confidence to actually show my stuff in front of strangers with total confidence. And now I was going to have to give it all up.

Mr. Marks saw the disappointment on my face. “Perhaps we were wrong in springing it all on her so suddenly, Mr. Elliot,” he said. “Nine years old is just too young to have to make such important decisions, and Christine has had so much to deal with already in her life. Even at my age I can only imagine the stress involved in what she’s had to go through, and now another life changing decision. I’ll tell you what, Christine. I’ll be in town two more days, if you want some time to think about it. You can call me at my hotel.”

I looked at Josh, and there I saw disappointment written all over his face. “You knew about this before, didn’t you Josh?” I accused.
“Yeah,” he replied. “We had this talk last week, and that’s when we decided it would make a nice birthday present for you.”
“You think we should do it?”
“I’m not gonna tell you to do it, Christine. My dad made it very clear that it had to be YOUR decision. You gotta decide for yourself.”
“But I don’t know what to do. You wanna do it, don’t you?”
“I... well... yes, I do, Christine. I mean, Mr. Marks’ band plays the same kind of music that James Last does, and we both love dancing to James Last. I think it would be so cool.”

That was all I needed to hear. I really don’t think I was doing it to make Josh happy, but Josh was still my hero and I valued his judgment more than even I realized at the time. I was used to following his lead on the dance floor, and more and more I was following his lead in life decisions. “Ok,” I said. “Thank you, Mr. Marks, I think I’d like to try it.”
“Wonderful,” he said. “I will try my very hardest to be sure you don’t regret it, and knowing the sort of achievers you two are, I know you will enjoy the challenge.”

We had a clogging performance that following Saturday evening, and that was to be our last. Mr. Marks made arrangements for us to meet the band on Saturday morning at their regular rehearsal, then we were to meet them the following Friday evening where they were playing in Charlotte. From there we would make as many performances as we could until school ended, and then we would tour with the band for the whole summer. My dad made one more stipulation.

“We were planning a big fourth of July week at Myrtle Beach,” he said. “We were all planning to go: My wife and I, my brother and his wife, the Reynolds’ and the Williams’ and all the children. I think it’s important, considering their ages, that we not change those plans. They are still children and I don’t want to rob them of their childhood.”
“Myrtle Beach?” I questioned. “I didn’t know we were going to Myrtle Beach.”
“None of you kids did,” Mom informed me. “It was to be a surprise.
“We’ll be playing in Chicago that week,” Mr. Marks said. “I think it would be a great idea for you to follow through on your plans. I agree that what I am proposing is secondary to the business of being a child. So we shall have to do without you that week. My only stipulation is that you all have a great time.”

“There is one more thing,” I said hesitantly. “I’m... I mean, there is a problem with...”
“He already knows,” Mom said. “We felt it wouldn’t be fair for Mr. Marks to invest all that time without knowing of your problem, so we discussed it fully.”
“I think you’re a very courageous young lady,” Mr. Marks added. “I think perhaps being European has made me more aware and tolerant of such things. I understand and I know it happens, and we shall work with you on it. Hopefully I can provide some assistance as time goes on.”

“But my dad...” I protested as I shot him a quick glance.
“I understand that also, Christine. “Your father is having a lot of trouble dealing with what he regards as losing a son. That is understandable, and I think you have a pretty great father. In spite of his own personal confusion and turmoil, he is supporting you fully. You are very lucky, Christine.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said as I ran to Dad and hugged him.

Our mothers contacted our teachers, and both agreed that we had more than done all the school work for the year and were willing to release us early to give us more time to be with Mr. Marks’ band. Miss Anthony even pulled me aside on the last day I was there early in May. “I’ve got to tell you,” she said after everyone else had left. “I was very concerned about having you in my class, knowing of your... er... situation. But now that you’re leaving and I’ve lost you as a student, I couldn’t let you go without telling you that it’s been a pleasure being your teacher, Christine. I’m so happy for you and this chance, and I just know you’re gonna do well; you do well at everything you do. You’re going to be facing some pretty difficult times and decisions in the future, and I just want you to know that if you ever need me for anything, if there’s anything I can ever do for you, I’m willing and anxious. I hope you liked me as a teacher, but even more important, I hope you will consider me your friend.”

Well, that got us both in tears. I had indeed thought of Miss Anthony as a friend, but at my age that was a sentiment I thought better kept to myself. Now that it was in the open, my emotional little girl side got the better of me and I threw my arms around her and kissed her. I drew the line at telling her I loved her, but I think she knew it. She kissed my forehead and whispered “Get outa here before you break my heart. Go show those Germans how to sing.”

As excited as I was, I think Gail was more so. I had been somewhat reluctant to tell her because that would mean we would be separated for the first time since we’d moved into our new houses less than a year ago. But Gail would hear none of it. “This is so cool,” she bubbled. “My cousin’s gonna be a star.”
“It’s got nothing to do with being a star,” I tried to tell her. “We’re just gonna get some extra instruction.”
“That’s only the start,” she insisted. “You watch and see, you’re gonna be a star. I just know it.”

The very next day, Mom and Aunt Karen, Josh and I were on a plane, my very first flight, headed for San Francisco. We would be rehearsing with the band every afternoon, being tutored in the mornings, then attending the performances in the evening. There would be no time for touring or playing, no time to even think about all the things that most kids think of and do during summer vacation. But we really loved it. We just couldn’t get enough. Our whole lives were music now, and we were getting a real good taste of what people in the entertainment business have to go through every day in their lives. There was certainly more to it than just getting on a stage, looking pretty and sounding good.

There was a small dance troupe with the band: five males and five females. Mr. Marks’ goal was to make Josh and me couple number six and have us doing live performances before the summer was over, but there was a lot of instruction and choreography to learn before that would happen. The band and dancers were from all over Europe, some of them couldn’t even speak English, but there is something about being a kid that allows one to communicate without the use of the spoken word. They all seemed to love us and welcomed us openly, helped us when they could, and in no time at all we were perfectly comfortable with them.

Mom and Dad and the Reynolds’ got together and devised a schedule where there would be one parent with us all the time. Mom was helping Dad at the computer store most of the time now and he couldn’t afford to lose her full time. “And besides,” he said, “I’m not ready to give up on being the father of a child just yet. There’s no way your mom’s gonna have all the fun.”

Josh and I were exhausted when we arrived home for our July fourth vacation. We had learned a lot during the two months we’d been traveling; far more than anyone had dared hope. Mr. Marks told us when we got back that we would be singing on stage when we rejoined the tour, which of course got us all nervous and apprehensive. He said “You are not to worry, my little songbirds. I would never allow you to go on stage until you were ready, and believe me, you are ready. So that was the news we carried back to our fathers.

There were 11 of us going to Myrtle Beach: Mom and Dad and I, Aunt Julia and Gail, the Reynolds family, and Mrs. Williams and Adam. Uncle Dan said there was simply no way he could leave the business for a full week, that he would be there for the fourth celebration, but that the rest of the time he had to be at work. No one could change his mind, so we all piled into our two rented vans and off we went. There was something about the way he had refused to go and Aunt Julia’s reaction to it that got me wondering. I asked Gail about it the first time I got her alone, but for one of the few times in her life she clammed up completely and refused to discuss it.

I had not realized how much I had missed just being a child. I suppose in many ways I didn’t even realize I was missing it until that week in Myrtle Beach; but that one week made up for a lot of missed childhood experiences. We did it all that week. We went to the beach and played in the surf, made sand castles, collected shells. We walked out on the patio in our pajamas every morning at the resort where we were staying and fed the ducks that lived on the pond. We ate at all-you-can-eat buffet’s and stuffed ourselves, laughed and giggled and had to be spoken to by our parents. But the highlight of the trip was the July 4th holiday.

Broadway At The Beach is a new tourist attraction at Myrtle Beach. It is built on a large man made lake, with boardwalks all around, and countless little curio and specialty shops that cater to the millions of tourists that visit the area every year. The Reynolds’ had been there before because they’ve been everywhere. But none of the rest of us ever had, so it was to us like a giant wonderland. We spent the entire day there, wandering into all the various stores, buying the odd souvenir here, a colorful T-shirt there. Gail and Adam and I were wandering about most of the day with our mouths hanging open, totally in awe at all the sights, the street performers, the noise, the people, the music.

By 9:30 PM it seemed to us that the entire population of South Carolina was on the boardwalk, vying for a place to stand or sit where they had an unobstructed view of the lake, where the fireworks would be set off at ten. Uncle Robert had the foresight of bringing folding chairs, which he set up on the boardwalk right behind the railing; so we were assured of the best seats in the place.

The show began with a laser light show. My dad had explained the concept of lasers and how they worked, but the explanation meant very little to us kids. I still don’t understand how they did it, but they used lasers to form hologram figures out over the lake, making moving figures of various birds and animals which danced to the music that was playing on the speaker system. After the hologram demonstration, they began setting off the fireworks as the laser beams shone across the water. It was totally awesome. I don’t think there has ever been a single event before or after that affected me as much as that show, unless it was what happened after it was over.

All those thousands of people headed for the parking lot at the same time once the show ended. Uncle Robert told us that there was little point in trying to fight the traffic until it died down a little, which suited Gail and me just fine because we weren’t even close to being finished shopping. And that’s when I got the idea for my song. We wandered about from store to store, just basically looking at all the wonderful things we found. Eventually I turned around to tell Gail something and she was gone. I went to tell our parents, and they were nowhere to be found either. I was desperate to tell some of the grown-ups from our party that Gail was lost, but then a cold chill went down my back as I realized that I was the one who was lost, not Gail. I had somehow wandered off by myself, and I couldn’t find anyone I knew. Suddenly this wondrous place was foreign, alien, frightening. There were people everywhere, which only served to confuse me more. I have never felt so alone, so abandoned. What if they didn’t notice that I was missing and left without me? What if Dad got angry at me and said it would serve me right if the police found me, and just left me here? What would I do? Where would I go?

I thought of looking for a police officer and telling him my name and address, but that wouldn’t do any good, there was no one home. They were all here, some place. But where? I couldn’t remember the name of the resort where we were staying, and I had no idea what the phone number was. So I just wandered around, walking faster and faster until I was running from store to store. Surely I could find at least one of the ten other people in this place that I would recognize. But the faster I ran, the more alien everything and everyone seemed to become. I was hopelessly lost.

After I had covered the entire place twice, I just gave up and sat down on one of the benches located all over the boardwalk. I closed my eyes and saw Josh’s image, waving good-bye to me. I knew, just knew, that I would never see him again. I would never sing for the Herman Marks band, would never realize my dream of becoming a real girl, never make my dad proud of me. All the stories and warnings my parents had told me of lost children being snatched by some evil man or woman ran through my head. That’s what would happen to me, but with a difference: when my kidnappers realized that the pretty little girl they had seized wasn’t a girl at all, but a little boy, they would undoubtedly kill me instantly and feed me to the sharks; or maybe worse: the thousands of huge carp that lived in the lake at Broadway At The Beach. Next time Gail and the others fed the fish at Broadway, they would be feeding the very fish that had eaten my lifeless body.

I was sitting with my eyes closed because I knew if I kept them open and saw all the unfamiliar faces going their merry way, uncaring about a lost little girl, I would start to cry. I felt a hand slip around my waist. This is it, I thought, this is where I get snatched and thrown in the back of some dark van, tied up and drugged, and hauled away. But then a voice spoke to me: the soft, gentle, breaking soprano voice of a boy fast approaching puberty. “Come on, Christine, we’re leaving. Everyone thought you were lost, but I knew where you’d be.”
“Josh?” I said as I opened my eyes and looked directly into his. “How’d you know? I mean, I was so scared...”
“I dunno how I knew, but I knew where you’d be. It was as if you were calling me, telling me where to look. Come on, the others are gettin’ worried.”

I took the hand he offered and followed him like a little dog as he led me back to our waiting families. That’s when I knew just how seriously he’d taken his commitment to always take care of me. That’s when I was sure that I had nothing to fear, as long as Josh was alive and well. And that’s when I began writing my very first song.

The rest of the summer flew by. As promised, Josh and I did at least one dance number alone in every one of the band’s performances after that. We often sang as we danced, sometimes stood and sang in front of a microphone, sometimes both. But Mr. Marks wasn’t satisfied. He told us that he would be doing a big week long show in mid August in New York City, and that he wanted Josh and me to do a duet. He offered a couple of suggestions about what we would sing, but I had my own ideas. First though, we would have to convince our parents to allow us to register for school late. We would be at least a week late in getting back to school. I showed Herman the song that Josh and I had been working on. It wasn’t finished and it was somewhat child like, but Herman liked it. He said he could help us finish it, and we could do it as a duet if we liked. Well, we DID like. So we set to work finishing the song and teaching it to the band.

To my utter astonishment, Josh’s parents had no problem with his returning to school late, and neither did my mom. Dad was another story, but for a completely different reason. “If you go on a big show like that,” he said, “enough people will see you that it’ll be nigh impossible for you to ever be a boy again without all the embarrassment and explaining that you had to go through last year. It will be like driving the final nail in Christopher’s coffin. You will have killed yourself as a boy.”
“I don’t ever want to go back, Dad,” I pleaded. “I’m happy now. This is really me. Please don’t say I can’t do it.”

Dad didn’t say no, but he didn’t say yes either. He agreed to go along, but he made it very clear that it wasn’t his decision and against his better judgment. And he seemed to become more distant, more disapproving after that. Mom took me out shopping for a dress - a full formal which was not easy to find for a nine year old. Josh was easy by comparison: he was to wear a full tuxedo, the kind with tails. It had to be specially made for him, but that was a simple matter for a good tailor.

The show was a total blast. The audiences were huge and very appreciative. Josh was so handsome, and he had never danced more smoothly. People didn’t even notice that he was getting so much taller than I was. We literally flowed around the stage like a couple of spirits as we danced with the other dancers, and then it was time for our number.

The other dancers faded off the stage, two microphone stands were brought out for Josh and me, and we stood side by side looking out over the audience. I glanced over to Mr. Marks. He smiled at me and nodded as he directed the band to begin their introduction. His smile sent a wave of warmth through my body, and my nervousness vanished. I looked at Josh and he was smiling at me. I was to sing the first verse alone. So I looked back at the audience and started to sing:

I wake up in the morning with sunlight on my face;
My days are never boring, the world’s a happy place.
And when I start to think, I know that I’m a lucky gal.
Cause I’ve got a home, I’m never alone,
I have no reason to cry.

So if you’re feeling lonely, you just come along.
You tell me your story, and I will sing you a song.
If you’re feeling lonely just come knocking at my do-o–o-or.
And I’ll be there for sure.

The band played a little interlude and then Josh sang his answering verse:

I wake up in the morning, with sunlight on my face;
My days are never boring, the world’s a happy place.
But I’ve lived a little longer than you, and sometimes it was bad,
So if your dreams fall apart, and pain fills your heart,
Don’t you ever feel sad.

So if you’re feeling lonely, you just come along.
You tell me your story, and I will sing you a song.
If you’re feeling lonely just come knocking at my do-o-o-or;
And I’ll be there for sure.

Author’s Note: I have no idea who actually wrote this song. I heard it being sung by a 12 year old Belgian singer called Michael Junior and his friend, 21 year old German singer Helmut Lotti.

Josh took my hand as we both slipped on a headset mike, and then we started to dance as we sang the chorus again, and then again. I had never felt so special as I looked into Josh’s eyes as we sang and danced, our eyes never leaving each other’s face. We were alone in the universe. We were so happy it was almost painful.

When it was over there was applause. Lots of it. “Take a bow. Mr. Marks said. “They love you.”

We took our bow together, then motioned to Mr. Marks as we’d been taught. He bowed, then motioned to the band who all stood and bowed, then they motioned to us to bow again. The applause kept coming, so Mr. Marks told us to do the chorus again. The band started again, and we did the chorus again, then bowed again. I caught sight of Mom and Dad in the audience, sitting with all the others: Aunt Julia and Uncle Dan, Gail, Adam and his mom, and the Reynolds family. Gail was standing, beating her hands together so hard it’s a miracle they didn’t fall off.

“You two were so great,” Everyone gushed when we were backstage.
“It was fun.” was all I could say. I was having all I could do to hold the tears in abeyance, I was on such an emotional high. But there was also a sadness, a dark cloud. The summer was over. We had learned so much, and had such fun doing it. We had learned a lot about stage presence, about projecting our voices, about facial expressions. We had learned two songs in German, one in French and two in Italian. But now it was over. It was time to put away the fancy clothes and go back to reality and school - school without Josh.

“You seem somewhat melancholy, little princess,” Mr. Marks said in my dressing room as I got changed. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Not really,” I sniffled. “I just hate that it’s all over. We’ve had such a good time.”
“But it’s not over, Christine. You are only nine years old. Your life hasn’t really begun yet. You have such a bright future, and your parents love you so much. You have it all, Princess.”
“Yeah, right.” I said angrily. “My dad hates me, I need an operation that I can’t get until it’s too late, soon my voice will change and then I’ll sound stupid singing with Josh...
“Wait a second,” Mr. Marks said as he covered my mouth gently with his hand. “Your dad hates you? What on earth gave you that idea?”
“He wanted a boy,” I spat out bitterly. “Instead, he got... ME. Half boy, half girl. And now I’ve gotta go back to school, without Josh. All the kids’ll be making fun of me...”

“Let me tell you about your father,” Mr. Marks said as he again raised his hand to quiet me. “Do you believe that I am your friend?”
“Yes, sir. You’re one of my best friends.”
“Then you can believe me, right? Friends don’t lie, right?”
“Yes sir. I believe everything you tell me.”
“Good. If you don’t ever believe another thing I say, believe this. Your father sat in my dressing room only yesterday and cried. He cried because he wanted you happy and fulfilled. He cannot afford the operation you need, and even if he could he is still hesitant. He is still not convinced that it’s the right thing to do. He is terrified that he will send you to have that surgery, then a year later you will realize that it was a mistake; but then it’ll be too late. Once you’ve been castrated there’s no turning back. Sexual reassignment surgery is forever, Christine. And your father is not thinking of himself, he’s thinking of YOU! Your happiness is his biggest concern.”

“That’s what he told you?”
“That’s what he told me. He is so proud of you, Christine. He loves you, and I don’t want you to ever forget it.”
“If you say so,” I said; but we both knew I wasn’t convinced.

“We are leaving for Germany tomorrow,” Mr. Marks said when he had us all gathered in his hotel room. “I want you all to know, John and Susan, Robert and Karen, that your children have been everything I had hoped and more. They are very talented and very devoted. Their childish enthusiasm has helped them commit to a very difficult schedule and rise to all we could throw at them. They learned all we tried to teach them with a maturity far beyond their years. I would like to pursue this further, if I may.”

Mom and Dad both hugged me as Josh’s parents hugged him, then they swapped and we got another four armed hug. “What exactly did you have in mind?” Uncle Robert said.
“I have some contacts at the university,” Mr. Marks said. I would like your permission to make arrangements for Christine and Joshua to study with Professor Chambers. He is well versed on the type of music we do, which I guess could be considered light classical. It will mean some late evenings and intense weekends, in addition to their regular school work. It will also mean a heavy commitment from you, their parents, driving them back and forth. I would like them to study foreign languages as well as music. Christine is already reading music very well, but I would like them both to enhance that ability, and also study piano. If all are agreed, I will arrange for another tour next year, and in the meantime we can plan the next step.”

“Next step?” my dad questioned.
“Oh, yes, Mr. Elliot. Unless I am very much mistaken, these two have a very bright future on the stage. But as you are probably aware, it will not happen without a lot of very hard work.”
“But they’re still very young children.” Dad protested. “They have already been robbed of most of their childhood, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to force them to grow up to quickly. They need their childhood.”
“Indeed they do,” Mr. Marks agreed. “But the brutal fact is that the very talent that they enjoy so much is what will rob them of their childhood. If they don’t get the chance to pursue it, they will become frustrated. The cold hard truth is that their childhood will end prematurely whether we do anything or not.”

“From my experience, he’s right,” Uncle Robert said. “We can have vacations like the one in Myrtle Beach where they truly reverted to the children they appear to be, but that is temporary at best. Whether we like it or not, John, our babies are growing up.”
“So I take it you are in agreement?” my dad asked.
“Yes I am, John. I am a firm believer that children can seek their own level when it comes to challenges, and these two are still up for it, aren’t you kids?”
“Yes, sir,” Josh said.
“I think it’d be cool,” I agreed.

And so began my year as a nine year old. I will always remember that year as the year from hell. Three days later we were back home in North Carolina, our show business careers over for the time being. August 15 we were both back in school; Josh was in Middle School in seventh grade, I was still in Elementary in the fourth. My worst fears were realized when I ended up with Miss Banks for my teacher. She had a reputation for being tough, and she didn’t like me. She didn’t like what I was, and she didn’t like what the school board had directed her to do. She didn’t say so in so many words of course, because that would have got her in big trouble with the school board; but experienced teachers have a way of communicating their feelings to a nine year old without saying things that could land them in hot water. “There’s not much you can do,” Dad said. “All you can do in defense is to show her by your work that she can’t intimidate you.” To me, that piece of advice was saying that I had better produce the customary all A’s in spite of my teacher.

Miss Banks’ disdain for me was also communicated loud and clear to the other kids in the class. It only took a few days to realize that the only friend I had in the class was Adam, and I was really beginning to wonder about him. He had had a wonderful summer with my dad while I was away. Dad had him at the computer store most of the time, had taken him fishing several times, and was now attending all of Adam’s baseball and soccer games. It seemed that I had been displaced by one of my best friends. Only Gail, it seemed, never changed. I have often wondered what I would have done without Gail. She had attended every public performance of mine that she could get to, and she could always tell when I was getting down. Her response would be to start clowning around until I couldn’t help laughing at her. My cousin was the best sister and the best friend any girl could ask for. But just when I thought that my world would come completely unraveled, there was another ray of hope. Johnny was coming home.

To be continued...