"Whoa, Dude!”

This is first chapter of current WIP…

Color Me Kelly

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https://substack.com/@kathrineelaine https://substack.com/@dcwilkinson2024

https://substack.com/@themeganlee

Thanks to the friends here who incourage me daily.

Photo by Jordan McDonald on Unsplash

Chp 1

for TT

It was the last few minutes of not-so-happy hour at Missy’s bar. Jenn Peterson sat at a high-top table in the corner and wondered why the attractive lady at the end of the bar sat alone. She’d watched her for half an hour, discreetly she hoped. The woman’s statuesque figure appeared athletic. Jenn loved the look of broad shoulders and nicely muscular arms—the perfect woman for sleeveless designs. The crush in question did not disappoint. She wore a cute leopard-print tank top, and the tight pencil black skirt accentuated her lovely figure. Her hair was super short, something Jenn considered sexy. Most people Jenn met who could pull off that look, exuded confidence.

People walked by the lady, nodded politely, and left.

Why didn’t the woman mix with the crowd?

The first time Jenn walked in Missy’s she attended with a group of old school friends for a wedding shower. But Jenn’s first time she’d gone alone, she probably appeared shy. She remembered the feeling of mixed nervousness and excitement. She’d sat in the same barstool the beauty was seated in now. Jenn considered hurrying over to claim the stool beside her. Be friendly. Make her feel welcome.

She took a deep breath, stood and wiped her mouth to make sure she wasn’t drooling. Then she forced herself to slow down and walk toward the woman’s back.

One step away.

Jenn cleared her throat.

The woman jerked as if startled and turned to meet Jenn’s gaze.

“What’s that you’re drinking?” Jenn offered her friendliest smile.

 “An Appletini,” came a scratchy answer. Her hand quickly went to her throat.

“Oh,” Jenn said. Mystery solved, the lady could barely speak. “I was wondering why you weren’t talking to anyone. I had a touch of laryngitis last year. It sucks.”

The only reply was a sweet smile and nod. Her face was pretty, but she’d applied a bit too much make-up for Jenn’s taste. Perhaps she had tried to overcompensate for having been sick recently.

“Unless it’s not laryngitis. In that case, my bad.” Jenn didn’t want to leave her alone. “When it hit me, other than a fever, I felt fine. But the old voice box didn’t give a flying—”

“Yes!” her soft reply interrupted Jenn’s banter. She appeared to relax. The surprised expression softened.”That’s it,” 

“I have one more question,” Jenn said. “Then I promise not to ask too many.” At least she’d give it her best try. “What’s your name?”

The beauty didn’t answer. Instead she drained her glass. As she prepare to say something, the bartender returned with a new martini.

“Hey, Kelly,” he said, “the guys in the back said to keep you in drinks all night.” 

How convenient. Kelly looked relieved.

“Kelly, is it?” Jenn asked. “You have friends in high places around here.” Jenn looked at the bartender.

“And are you ready for another light -beer?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

He nodded and went to get her order.

Eager to get to know more, Jenn turned to her. “As anyone who knows me will tell you, I have no trouble keeping up a conversation. Sometimes, it’s a real pain trying to be quiet. I tend to have diarrhea of the mouth. My mom would say it’s how I deal with my stature and shyness.”

Kelly looked at her as though she didn’t believe a word.

“I think it may be an ADD issue. Besides, it proves that Mom doesn’t know the real me anyway.” Kelly probably didn’t need to know that yet, but was a benefit in this situation. Jenn took in a deep breath and tried again. “Sorry. How about if you just touch those luscious lips of yours when you want me to be quiet.”

Kelly held out her hand. “Nice to meet you,” she said in a sexy whisper. Then after a gentle shake she prompted Jenn to keep the conversation going, with a bring it on hand gesture.

“Okay. Well, my name is Jennifer Peterson, by the way. But I go by Jenn.” Never at a loss for words, Jenn felt suddenly awkward. “Ah…” she stammered. She wanted to learn more about Kelly. “I’ll tell you what. I have an idea.” Jenn reached into her purse and retrieved a notebook and several colored gel-pens she was never without. “How about since you can’t talk, we try something different?” She opened to a blank page in the middle and offered a handful of pens to Kelly. “What’s your favorite color?”

Kelly looked pleased with Jenn’s plan and grinned back at her. She quickly took the purple pen. 

“Purple?” Jenn laughed. “Wow, no kidding? That’s amazing, it’s mine too. But then again…” She took a pen and began doodling on the page. “I also like pink.” Jenn twirled a piece of her fuchsia dyed hair.

Kelly reached over and moved a piece of that hair behind her ear while Jenn drew. It made Jenn’s insides tingle. Was Kelly flirting? She stole a glance at Kelly who licked her lips and lifted her eyebrows up and down.

Jenn felt her cheeks get hot.

“I’ve never considered how many questions we use when we meet people. This is challenging.” Jenn began drawing a flower with big petals. “Okay I know. What do you do?”

Kelly grasped the edge of the notebook and pulled it closer. First, she added some purple accents to the petals and then picked a pen with brown ink and drew a box around them. What was she doing?

“You’re a florist?”

Kelly shook her head, tapped on the page. She drew a rectangular big brown blob and added a silver M on it then frowned. Kelly drew a silver circle, colored it in, and then added a V to form a sharp tack beside it. She tapped the brown blob then the tack over and over.

Jenn considered that. Was it a hammer and a nail? “You’re a carpenter?”

“Not exactly,” Kelly said hoarsely.

“No talking,” Jenn demanded. She giggled and pointed back to the notebook. “This is kind of fun guessing. Can you give me one more hint?” Jenn watched Kelly draw a stick house and then another more prominent building with perfect dimensions like she’d seen in blueprints. “You’re in construction?” Jenn asked.

Kelly held up a thumb. 

“That certainly explains those muscular arms. Do you like it?” 

Kelly took a red pen and drew a heart. 

“You love it.”

Kelly smiled larger and nodded. 

“It’s nice that you at least get to do what you love.”

Kelly scribbled a big question mark on the page then rubbed her hands together. This impromptu game was fun. Excitedly, Jenn turned to the next page.

Kelly quickly drew a hashtag and waited.  What was she asking? The answer came to her. Kelly was asking how old she was.

Just then, a cold breeze blew as the door opened. A big guy stormed in. He paused for only a second then rushed their way.

His dirty coveralls were covered in grime and sweat, and his long brown hair hung in greasy strings. He stopped a reasonable distance away. “Ah…Kelly…” he said, “Mom and Dad are holding dinner, did you forget?”

Kelly frantically began writing.  Jenn, this is my brother, Bob. Sorry, I have to leave.

So much for the flowering friendship. Jenn knew her face held disappointment, but she turned toward Bob. “Hi Bob, I’m Jenn.” She stood, stuck out her hand and forced a smile. 

Bob looked down at her outstretched hand but refused to take it. “Yeah, nice to meet you.” He gestured to the door and addressed Kelly. “Come, on, we’re going to be late. The guys said you’d be here. I’ll wait in the car.” He headed for the exit as quickly as he’d appeared.

Kelly squeaked out, “Really, really sorry.” Turning back to the notebook, she wrote TEXT beside her name KELLY COLEMAN and a phone number then underlined it twice. She smiled and followed her brother toward the door.

Jenn smiled at the notebook and pulled out her purse. When she turned around to yell, “Hope you feel better!” there was no one to hear her.

Damn. Kelly was perfect for her. So often, people described Jenn as over the top. Her bubbly personality and loud manner had intimidated previous lovers. Jenn felt no one appreciated her creative style, regardless what color she dyed her hair. But Kelly hadn’t appeared dissuaded by the outlandish shade, had even moved a strand behind her ear. Kelly seemed eager to let Jenn take the reins of their brief encounter. Their conversation had only started. What was Kelly’s story? Jenn opened her phone and added Kelly’s digits to her contacts.

The bartender returned with Jenn’s beer. “Kelly leave?” he asked.

“Yeah, but I got her number.”

He smiled and lifted his hand for a celebratory high five. Jenn slapped it playfully and sat down to drink her beer. She sighed to herself as she picked up the kelly-green pen and added more details to the flowers on the page. Jenn couldn’t wait to hear from Kelly Coleman and wondered what her real voice sounded like.

~~~

Kelly climbed into Bob’s rusty SUV. Even amongst the fumes of paint cans, brushes and tools of their trade that littered the back, Kelly could smell Bob.

She pinched her nose. “You stink.”

Bob shrugged. “I thought you weren’t talking.” He laughed. “I was looking forward to the silence. Don’t worry, I’ll shower while you call Mom.”

Living with her brother had its good and bad points. Rent was cheap, and they could share rides to work. But Kelly was having second thoughts about the living situation lately. If there was going to be any kind of relationship with someone, Kelly needed privacy.

With a huff of anger and crossed arms Kelly sent Bob a glare. “I texted Mom that I was busy tonight,” Kelly explained. “Why do you insist that I go? I was having a good time.”

Bob threw the car in drive and peeled out. “Damnit, Sis, family dinners are once a month. I’ve made excuses the last two times, and I refuse to lie for you anymore.” He wasn’t driving recklessly, but Kelly could feel he was in a hurry. Was that the only reason for his anger?

“Can we slow down?” Kelly reached for the chicken handle over the door to steady the feel of danger rising.

Bob let up on the gas slightly but sent a frown in Kelly’s direction. “Okay, we should talk.”

Kelly didn’t think any conversation starting with that statement was good. “What’s wrong?”

“You broke your promise.”

“Huh?” Kelly had no idea what promise. Bob’s attitude had changed lately and now they would get to the bottom of it. “Did I miss something?”

“That’s why I wanted you to go to dinner. You may need to move out. I only had one rule, Kelly. Damn it, one.”

Kelly tried to recall the conversation nearly a year ago. Leave a note, be respectable, text if a girl was over… Those things they’d both agreed on. What was the one deal breaker?

“I haven’t done anything wrong? What are you talking about?”

Bob pointed to the glove compartment. “Then tell me what’s that?”

Kelly opened the glove compartment and saw a mangled paper sack. Picking it up, Kelly didn’t have to open it to tell the content. The shape of a discarded hypodermic needle and syringe clear up everything. No drugs! That’s where Bob drew the line. He thought Kelly was on drugs.

Maybe Kelly was, but this was different than trying to get high. He had to tell Bob the truth. Having a girl-friend wasn’t Kelly’s biggest concern. Finding someone who would accept Kelly for who Kelly was might take a lifetime.

Jenn was nice and Kelly hoped she would make contact with her.

Damn, the pronouns were getting confusing. Kelly had lied to himself long enough. Believing and accepting who HE was came new to him as well. He was forced to start with Bob.

“Bro? Can I tell you something?”

“Always, you know that, right?”

“Bob I’ll always be your Kelly…

“Go on, Sis.”

“That’s just it.” Kelly pulled a bandanna out of the backpack on the floorboard. Wiping at the makeup the tears mixed with mascara making a mess as he stared out the window.

Bob glanced over. “I was going to say you looked nice when I saw you. Mom loves it when you wear a skirt.”

“I didn’t do it for Mom. This, in fact, is the last time I’ll ever put on a skirt.” He folded the bandanna and wiped his face again. “I can’t hide this anymore. It’s about my therapy.”

Bob slowed as they approached home. “What’s different from when you first moved in? From what I just saw at Missy’s, you still like girls, right?”

“Yeah, I’m a straight man trapped inside a lesbian.” Kelly laughed at his own joke. “The truth is, therapy’s good. In fact, it explains about what you found, it’s prescribed.”

“Are you sick?” Bob asked. All traces of anger had morphed into concern.

“No.” Kelly shook his head. Here goes… “I’ve started hormone shots, and I’m going to be your brother. I’m Trans.”

The car swerved and Bob slammed on the brakes.

Kelly’s head bounced against the head rest as the vehicle jerked to a stop. The SUV was half-way on the sidewalk, and they had barely missed a bank of mailboxes.

Bob had a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. His eyes wide and bulging with unasked questions as he looked to Kelly for answers.

“Whoa, dude,” was all he said.

“Exactly!” Kelly said. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

TAG….