Sister's Passport - Flying Off To New Life - Part 3

OTHER PARTS | ALL STORY LIST

"Miss Cabrini! Miss Cabrini! Look who I brought!" Julie raced up to her ballet instructor.  

"Who, Julie, who?" asked Miss Cabrini, laughing, as she knelt down and gave Julie a hug.  

"My nanny! Kathy!"  

"Well hello, Kathy! I'm Sarah Cabrini," she held out a hand, "pleased to meet you."  

"And very pleased to meet you too."  

"And such cold hands!" Sarah grasped Ken's hand in both of hers and rubbed vigorously.  

"Mommy says Kathy should join us in class," Julie said. "Can she, Miss Cabrini? Can she?"  Sarah looked delighted. 

"Oh, yes! You must help us out, Kathy. I've created a ballet version of 'The Sound of Music'. It's just a few simple steps, you could learn them in a jiffy."  

"Oh no, I couldn't. I mean, I don't have shoes, or a costume, or anything."

 "Oh, don't worry about that. 

One of the mothers has volunteered to make the costumes. You'd be in a nun's habit, it's very simple."  

"You mean, long robes?" If he was covered up, maybe it wouldn't be so bad?  "Right! Covered from head to toe."  

"Well, perhaps." 

 "Excellent! You'll be great." 

Sarah stepped up to Ken. "And tonight, since it looks like we're pretty much the same size, you can wear my spare leotard."  

"What?" Ken gasped out loud, instinctively backing away out of fear. 

"You mean, I have to practice in a leotard?"  

"Of course, silly," Julie rolled her eyes as if to ask how could anyone be so clueless? 

"Everyone wears leotards to practice."   

Julie turned to Sarah. "Mommy said she'd buy Kathy a leotard and toe shoes if she wanted," she stated smugly. 

 "Now Julie, you go and start warming up," Sarah gently pushed her towards an open space on the bar.  

Ken felt himself hurtling towards the worst mistake of his life. "Miss Cabrini",

"Please, call me Sarah."  

"Right, ummm Oh dear. Sarah, please, I just can't do this. I've never danced before, I'm sure I'd be horrible"  

"Not a problem! I can teach anyone!"  

"And." Ken thought he would have to admit the truth, or something close to it. 

"Well, I'm so embarrassed about my figure. I'm so scrawny."  

Sarah looked at Ken with sympathy. "Oh sweetheart, look at you. Your figure is a standard issue Russian ballerina. Did you ever notice how gawky they are when not on stage? 

Your movements are not graceful, perhaps, but we'll work on that. Now here, I'm not going to take 'no' for an answer, so you might just as well give up and come with me." 

Sarah grasped Ken's wrist firmly and dragged him to her office. "Here's my spare leotard and tights. You can change in here."  

With that Sarah left to start teaching class, closing the office door behind her, leaving Ken holding the dance clothes, looking for all the world like a trapped sparrow. 

"So, how was ballet class?" Tina asked. Ken, Tina, and Julie were all at the dinner table. Brian was still at work.  "It was great!" Julie exclaimed. "Kathy danced with us!"  

"Oh she did, did she?" Tina grinned. 

"I warned you that Sarah would be very persuasive." 

 Ken blushed, picking at his food. 

"Well, truthfully, I must admit to having had a very nice time."  

"So, what did you do for a leotard?" 

 "Oh, Sarah loaned me one," Ken said casually.  But at the time Ken was almost in tears as he frantically searched the office for anything, anything, which would help. He had almost given up when he opened up Sarah's first-aid kit and found a large roll of surgical tape.  

Taking off his panties, he gently pushed his testicles into his body, pushed his pepe down between his legs, and taped it all in place with a long strip of surgical tape which went from his abdomen to his buttocks. 

To be safe, he added two more pieces, and then another one around his waist, as a belt, to help hold everything in place.  

Ken had also found a sports bra in Sarah's duffle bag, which held his false breasts in place. Thusly taped up and strapped in, he slid on the black tights and pink leotard (both of which felt wonderful sliding on, he had to admit) and, on shaky legs, went to join the rest of the class.  

And the class was wonderful! 

Sure, the constant pulling at his crotch had been painful, but learning all of the different positions, learning how to move with graceful motions, learning simply how to walk across the stage, all that had been a dream come true. Ken was surrounded by women and girls, everyone accepting him as just another dancer, all of them working intently on the new production which was now just a month and a half away. 

And Ken, in his borrowed pink ballet shoes, had walked alongside them, stood in line, and attempted some of the easier steps at Sarah's direction.  "You'll be my special project," Sarah had whispered to Ken during class, while adjusting the position of his arms, causing Ken to gulp hard. 

 It wasn't until they got home that Ken had to pay for his deception. His pepe, stomach, and bum now had angry red stripes across them where he had ripped off the tape, taking no small amount of skin and hair with it.  Ken winced at the memory. 

Turning to Tina he said, "But I'll have to go shopping for my own costume, someday this week."  

Tina brightened up. 

"Shopping! What a wonderful idea. I haven't had a good shopping trip with a girlfriend for months! We'll go this Saturday. 

Oh, and the tights and toe shoes will be my treat, no, I insist. I've never seen Julie this excited about ballet class. Normally she just likes to wear her tutu."  

"Oh thank you!" Ken was truly grateful. 'But what am I going to do about my pepe?' he thought to himself anxiously. Ken thought that after a few weeks of ripping tape off his body, there would be no skin left at all. 'I wonder if I could put the tape on over my panties?' he wondered.  

"So, anything else interesting happens at ballet class?" Tina inquired.  

"No, not really," Ken lied.  After class was over Ken was heading back to the office to change when Sarah caught him by the wrist and whispered, "I know your secret."  

"What?" Ken's eyes went wide as his stomach lurched. 

 "Come inside." 

Sarah dragged him into the office. "Kathy, it's so obvious. I know bodies really well, and I can easily tell that you're."  

Sarah paused, looking carefully at Ken's frightened expression.  "anorexic."  

"Oh." Ken let out his breath, relieved.  "No!" Sarah said sharply. "It's dangerous and unhealthy! When I was in college studying ballet, I weighed only 98 pounds. I almost starved to death. And my bones were so brittle that I broke my hip bone during practice and my career was over," she snapped her fingers. 

"Just like that." 

Sarah held Ken's hands in hers. 

"See, you're cold all the time, aren't you? And you have more hair on your face and arms than other girls."

 Sarah held up Ken's arms. "These are all symptoms of an eating disorder. And your bod has no fat whatsoever, you're all skin and bones sticking out. And I can see that you're using extra padding for your breasts."  

"But I do eat. Quite a lot, actually. It's just sometimes." 

Ken trailed off. 

 "Sometimes, what? Sometimes you purge yourself?"

"Uh,"  Sarah looked at Ken with sympathy and then pulled him into a warm embrace. "Take it from someone who has struggled her whole life: 

You do not need to lose weight to feel good about yourself, not when you have friends like Julie and me to look after you." Sarah smiled and pulled out a piece of paper from her duffle bag. 

"Now here's the number of my therapist. Call him when you feel up to it. And here's my home number, call me if you want to talk, any time, day or night."  Sarah turned to head back to the class, which was packing up. 

"Oh, and you don't have to change if you don't want to. Just bring back the clothes next time. You can use them to practice with Julie if you'd like."  

"You don't need them?"  

Sarah laughed. "I've got like, what? 3 dozen pairs? No, I don't need them."    

That night Ken woke to the sound of Michael sniffling and fussing. Ken had always been a light sleeper.  

"What do I do?" Ken wondered.  Since he was up, Ken decided to go see if he could help calm him down. 

This time he remembered to put on his breast forms and a bra, just in case.  

"Now, what could be the matter with you?"

 Ken cooed to Michael, reaching a hand into the crib to stroke his tummy. Seeing Ken, Michael started to cry in earnest.  

"Oh, hush there. I know that you're not feeling good." 

Ken lifted Michael out of the crib, wiped his nose with a tissue, and went to sit down in the rocking chair. Rocking and soft humming seemed to calm Michael down a bit.  

Feeling Michael shifting his body, Ken looked down and saw Michael reaching for his breast! "Oh Michael," Ken said concerned now, "I don't think that I have anything for you there."  

"He's probably just hungry." 

Ken looked up to see Brian standing at the door, loose tie around his neck.  "But what can I do?" Ken asked, "Clearly I can't breastfeed him." 

If only, thought Ken.  "Hold on, I'll make up a bottle." Brian disappeared downstairs, returning 10 minutes later with a warm bottle.  Ken turned Michael onto his back. Michael reached for the bottle and started drinking.  

"There you go," Brian smiled. "Mind if I join you for a bit?" 

 "Not at all." 

 Brian sat down on the floor, his back against the door. Brian and Ken watched Michael drink for a while.  

"We haven't had much time to talk, so I was just wondering if everything is going OK?" Brian asked.  

"Oh yes, very well, thank you. Julie and I are getting along just famously."  

"Julie? My daughter? The one who threw grape juice all over my new suit last week? That Julie?"  Ken was flustered. 

"Yes, I think so."  Brian chuckled. 

"It's a miracle! But then, I see you have a way with children," he motioned towards Michael.  

Ken looked down. Michael was sound asleep in his arms, snoring softly, bottle at his side. 

"Oh, he's so beautiful," Ken whispered, in awe at the soft bundle nestled in his arms.  

"Yeah, they're cute at this age."  

Ken paused as he heard the house gently creak with the wind outside. Michael, still asleep, sniffled a bit, rolled to his side, and placed a hand on Ken's breast.  

Ken looked up, flushed with embarrassment, but Brian seemed not to notice.   

"So, ah, do you work late often?" 

Ken asked, trying to make conversation.  

"Yes, unfortunately. I do research on companies for my family's investment banking firm and so every quarter there are all these reports to do. 

And twice a year I usually have to do an extended road trip to visit the companies in person. In fact, I have one coming up." 

 "Can't you get someone to help you?"  

"Well, we've been looking for someone, but it's not easy..."  

"Oh!" Ken had an inspiration. 

"What about Tim?" 

He paused. 

"His father lives just two houses down?"  

Brian thought for a second, then laughed, "Tim Downey? Little Timmy? That brat who used to ride his bike over our yard?" 

 Ken stuttered, "Well, he told me, ummm, he told me that he was studying business and looking for some work over the summer."  

"Oh he did, did he? You two have talked?"  

"Well, er, yes, once or twice while waiting for Julie at the bus stop." 

 "You know, I did notice that he had grown into quite a handsome young man," Brian winked.  

"Well, I didn't notice that." 

Ken blushed, flustered again.  Brian got up. 

"Well, whether you did or not, he would be a great catch!"  'Julie and Brian, both trying to set me up with Tim. What's going on here?' Ken thought furiously to himself.  

"Well, I'm headed to bed and I recommend you do the same, and Kathy..."  

"Yes?"  

"Thank you so much for all your help."  

Ken smiled at the compliment. 

"You're quite welcome, I'm actually having a wonderful time."  And just then Ken realized it was true.    

Ken opened the door to discover a large boisterous man standing on the front step. 

"Hello?"  

"Hi there! I'm Marc La Rossa, are you Kathy?"  

"Yes, but," Ken looked up, confused. Marc was wearing a plaid shirt with jeans and carried a tape measure and a clipboard. 

 Marc extended a hand.

 "Pleased to meet ya Ma'am. I'm here to look at the bathroom tile? Tim Downey sent me over, said you had some trouble?" 

 "The bathroom tile? 

 Oh! Yes! Please come in!" Ken ushered him in. 

 "Yeah, Tim's father, Mr. Downey, wants to install a cabana outside his pool, so I happened to be in the area. Hey look, you have a pool, too."  

"Who is it, Kathy?" Tina walked in, curious. Michael was in his playpen enjoying himself and Julie was at school.  

"Tina, meet ah." Ken hesitated. 

"Marc La Rossa, Ma'am. Boy, it's been nearly 20 years since I've been in this place."  

"You've been here before?" Tina asked, curiouser and curiouser.  

"You bet. 'Course I was working for my dad at the time. We put up all these walls right here." Marc thumped the wall to the side of the foyer.  

"What do you mean?" Ken asked.  "You mean, you don't know? Well, you see, Isaac Johnson, he was the one who started that investment banking firm, right?"  

"Brian's grandfather," Tina supplied.  

"So it's his grandson who lives here now, right? Anyway, ol' man Isaac broke his hip one day, by that time his wife had died, you knew that, right?" 

 "Ummmm, of course," Tina mumbled, although it was clear she was hearing this for the first time. 

 "Anyway, as I said he broke his hip and decided to set up a bedroom downstairs, so he wouldn't have to walk up and down the stairs all the time. And then, after his hip healed, he decided to make it permanent, so he hired my dad to put up all these walls. And that's why you have, maybe, twice as many rooms on the first floor than you ought to have."  

"Oh!" Ken exclaimed. "So that's why!"  

"What's why?" Tina asked.  "That's why the layout of the first floor is so strange." 

 "Well," Marc continued, "all I know is that this," pound, "this," pound, "and this didn't exist before. And in here," Marked walked into the living room, pounding on walls, trailed by Ken and Tina. 

"These three rooms were all one room and the bathroom here didn't exist at all. Basically, the first floor had just four rooms: Kitchen, living room/foyer, dining room, and the library, which I guess is now Mr. Johnson's office over there, instead of seven, like it has now."  

"Wow." Tina's eyes started to glimmer. "Wouldn't that make a wonderful space for entertaining?" 

 "And look at this!" Marc pointed. "That big wheel there by the ceiling? 

That holds up a door, one of two, which used to divide the living room and dining room. 

You could slide those doors apart so you have this great big opening between the two rooms." 

"Like one big party space!" Tina nearly bubbled over.  

"I wonder what it would take to put it back the way it was?" Ken mused.  

"I'll write up an estimate if you'd like," Marc offered.  

"No, I didn't mean," Ken stammered  "No, I'm curious," Tina interjected. "Any idea of a ballpark estimate?" 

 "I'm thinking" Marc scratched his head behind the ear and did some mental math. "maybe 75 to 100 thousand dollars?" 

 "Oh!" Ken was astounded. That was as much as a new house! Just to tear down some walls?  "Well, that's not bad!" Tina said. "Boy, I would love to do it."  

"OK, I'll take some measurements and write something up for ya. Now, suppose I take a look at the bathroom? Oh and hey, should I send someone to clean up that pool in your backyard?" 

 "Yes!" Tina and Ken both fairly shouted, in unison.  

"Hi, Kathy!" Tim walked over and then sat down on the bench. Ken was waiting for Julie's bus to arrive home.  

"Hi, Tim!" Ken smiled. "I wanted to thank you so much for sending Marc over to look at the bathroom. He's wonderful!"  

"Isn't he? And did he tell you his real name? He's Italian and his real name is 'Marco Polo LaRossa', isn't that great?"  

Ken giggled delighted. 

"That's wonderful! I'll have to kid him about it later."  Ken smiled at Tim, who seemed to be nervous and fidgety.  "Kathy?" Tim asked tentatively.  

"Yes, Tim?"  

"I ah, would you like to go, out." 

Tim's voice trailed off to nothing. 

 Ken noticed for the first time that Tim was flushed. 

"Sorry, Tim?" 

 "Oh, I understand if you can't. After all, your real home is a thousand miles away." 

 "No no, I meant, sorry, but I just didn't hear you. What did you say?"  Tim cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"I would like to take you out to dinner and a show."

The words all tumbled out in a rush. 

"My dad has tickets to the touring production of this Broadway show and I know this great restaurant I think it would be really great if you could accompany me and would you like to go out on a date with me?" Tim held his breath.  

"What?" Ken was flustered. 

"You mean you're asking me out on a date" 

 "Well, yes, I was hoping, please?"  

"Oh, Tim, I can't go out with you!" Ken was aghast.  

"Why not?" 

'Shit!' Ken thought to himself. 'Why not, exactly? Because I'm a man!' 

Ken screamed to himself.  

"Because I, Oh, I don't know. 

It's ah all so sudden," Ken trailed off, lamely, his mind spinning. 

All of a sudden he felt nauseous and for a split second thought about running home to throw up in the toilet bowl. 

This can't be happening to me, Ken thought to himself, Tim is such a nice guy, I really like Tim! What am I going to do?  

Beep Just then the bus rolled up. There is a God, Ken thought to himself.  

"Well, just think about it, OK? 

The tickets are for a week from now, that is, you know, next Thursday? 

I mean, I know it's short notice."  Tim looked so abashed that Ken almost said yes, right then.  

"What Kathy? Tickets for what?" Julie ran up, grasped Ken's hand, and pulled him upright.  

"I've asked Kathy out on a date!" Tim exclaimed.  

"A date! A date! Oh, a date! Kathy has a data aate. Kathy has a data aate!"  Ken looked at Tim, shooting daggers.

 Now that Julie knew, Ken knew he wouldn't get a moment's rest. 

"Goodbye Tim," Ken said with annoyance, as he walked and Julie skipped back to the house. 

 "Goodbye!" 

Tim called back. 

"I'll talk to you tomorrow!"  

Ken and Julie skipped home together, but as they approached the house, Ken could feel that something was wrong. 

First, there was Brian's car parked in the front driveway. And as he opened the front door, he could hear shouting.  

"You bastard! Fine! Just get out, if that's what you're going to do!" Ken heard Tina scream at the top of her lungs.  

"Stop that! You're not listening!" 

Brian shouted and then Ken heard something smash against the countertop. Both of them appeared to be ignoring Michael, who was wailing at the top of his lungs upstairs.  Ken quickly reversed course.  

"Let's go for a walk in the park, okay Julie?" 

"Okay, Kathy," she said quietly.  

After a few moments of walking in silence, Julie just stopped and looked up at Ken, her eyes moist. 

"What's wrong with Mommy and Daddy, Kathy?" 

 Ken squatted down and pulled Julie into a warm embrace. 

"I don't know Julie," he said softly.  

"Are they angry with me?" 

 "Oh no!" Ken hugged her tighter. 

"Of course not. They both love you very much. 

It's just that, sometimes grownups just need to let off steam, sometimes." 

 "Let off steam?"  Ken thought. 

"Well, you know how you threw that terrible temper tantrum last week when I wouldn't let you wear your pink leotard to school?"  

"Yes,"

"Well, sometimes grownups need to throw a temper tantrum too. Do you see?" 

 "I guess so,"  

"And when they're done, everything will be okay. You'll see." 

"Okay."  

'Please let it be okay,' Ken thought to himself. 

Waiting in the courtesy club for his flight to leave, Brian ran through the argument in his mind, getting more and more angry with himself each time.  

"Why do I let her get to me? Why do I let her provoke me like that?"  

Trying to calm down Brian pulled out a pad of paper and started sketching organization diagrams, something he normally found very soothing. He was waiting for a flight to Italy for the 

European Investor's Conference. The Europeans always have the best conferences, he was fond of saying, the best locations and the best wine.  It was the first stop of what promised to be a very long business trip.  

Brian wasn't so much angry at Tina, but more angry at himself. He had always been schooled to never lose his temper it was a sign of weakness. Losing your temper made everyone around you nervous and defensive. 

"What is it about Tina that gets under my skin and sets me off like this?" 

 Tim looked at his diagram. There was Tina and himself, connected by many lines. And then Julie, with several lines to Tina and a single line to Brian. 'There's my triangle,' he thought to himself, 'the most stable organizational structure.' 

And then he started obsessively adding everyone else he could think of to the diagram: Michael, Kathy, Tim Downey, his parents, Tina's parents, his younger sister and her husband (Tina was an only child), Julie's playmates, and other miscellaneous friends.  

Looking down Tim realized that, except for his immediate family and Kathy (who was in the category of 'vendor/services'), he hadn't talked with anyone on the diagram in years.