Tommy Browder from Beyond Fashion is back! On a walk back to his aunt's house from downtown, a chance encounter brings Tommy face-to-face with an old enemy and a new friend, and gives him the chance to show Tony DeFranco what it really means to be a "stand up" guy.

Standing Up
A Tommy Browder Tale
by Randalynn

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“How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone
and declare his own freedom? — Jim Morrison

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what
it takes to sit down and listen.” — Winston Churchill

“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” — H. G. Wells

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Tommy Browder gave Jennifer one last goodbye kiss before helping her into the cab. She threw him a smile that made his heart do a small flip, and he slipped the driver a ten-dollar bill.

“I know it’s only a five-dollar fare,” he said, “but I’d appreciate it if you’d walk her to her door once you get there, ‘kay?”

“No problem, bud,” the driver replied. “I woulda done that anyway, a pretty girl like that. But thanks for the tip.”

“Hey, it’s only money.” Tommy glanced back at Jennifer. “She’s ... something special.”

The blush that slipped across her face warmed the boy. He tapped once on the top of the cab and took a step back to watch it pull away.

Normally, he would have taken the cab with her, and said goodbye at her door. But he was staying the summer at Aunt Phyllis’s house, and that was way across town from where his home and Jennifer’s were, and a heck of a lot closer to where he stood downtown.

Anyway, the date had pretty much killed his pocket money, so taking his own cab back was pretty much out. He’d just have to walk a few miles, and he could practically do that in his sleep. Hell, he could run it if he wasn’t in street shoes. Besides, these were the only date clothes he had while his house was being renovated.

‘Better to take it slow and not break a sweat,’ he thought, starting out with an easy stride. ‘Not looking to buy more clothes before Mom and Dad get back.’

Tommy got his bearings and turned down a street he hadn’t been down before, trying to cut the distance some. He was sure he’d get back in plenty of time to say goodnight to Aunt Phyllis, but he didn’t have any kind of curfew at this point, and he knew if he started staying out too late, she might start thinking that way. Their relationship had gotten off to a rocky start, but things had gotten better in the past few weeks, and he didn’t want to risk losing whatever ground they’d managed to gain because he screwed it up.

There were a few clubs on this block he hadn’t even known were there, and the music leaked onto the street along with the glow of neon and the sound of crowds. As he walked past the last club on the line, he passed an alley, and heard harsh laughter, followed by a soft voice saying, “no, please ...”

“Please what, bitch?” A cruel voice taunted, one Tommy knew all too well. “Or can I call you that when you ain’t one?”

Other voices joined the first in laughter, and Tommy realized that getting home without breaking a sweat wasn’t going to be an option. He sighed, unzipped his jacket, and stepped into the alley.

“Aww, hell, Keller,” he said sadly. “I got the whole summer away from school, and an entire town to avoid you in, but you still manage to ruin my night.”

“Get lost, Browder.” The other boy spoke without turning around. He and two friends stood over a slight figure. “This ain’t your problem.”

“Wrong, dipshit,” Tommy replied. “It’s you, and that makes it my problem. Ever since fourth grade, you’ve been pounding on people and I’ve been stopping you. Are you ever gonna give it a rest?”

Keller turned around and looked at Tommy. The other two shifted until all three faced him. Tommy stretched the muscles in his back. This wasn’t going to be fun.

“And now you had to go picking on a girl. I mean, this is a whole new level of stupid, even for you. This isn’t school, Keller. Cops will have your ass ... once I get through beating on you for a while.”

All three looked at each other and laughed.

“That ain’t no girl,” Keller sneered. “It’s a fag, and we’re gonna have some fun with him before we let him go. If we let him go.”

They moved aside enough to let Tommy see the small figure curled up in a ball, dressed in a pretty black dress that had been torn and dirtied, a long blonde wig twisted slightly askew and tears pouring down, streaking mascara across carefully done makeup.

Tommy shook his head. “Looks like a girl to me, Keller. And even if she wasn’t, doesn’t matter. You don’t get to hurt anyone you want. That’s not how things work with us, you know that.”

“Things change, Browder.” Keller smiled. “Go away now. Or we’ll make you.”

The other boy laughed and shook his head. “You? Make me doing anything? What have you been smoking?”

Keller’s flunkies looked at their leader and back at Tommy.

“There’s three of us, dude” one of them said.

“Well, yeah, but you’re all wusses.” Tommy grinned. “How hard can it be to take you down if it takes three of you to handle her?”

“She’s — it’s NOT a girl!” Keller’s face turned red.

“Excuse me, miss,” Tommy said softly, catching her eye. “You’re a girl, right?”

She nodded.

“What’s your name?”

“Josie,” she whispered. He smiled and turned back to Keller.

“Works for me.” With a sigh, he took off his coat and threw it to her in the gap between the thugs. “Hold this for me, will ya, Josie?”

She snatched it out of the air and cuddled it close.

“If you don’t touch her again and just walk away,” Tommy said, his tone even and his eyes locked on Keller’s. “I’ll let you go. But if you really want me to, I’ll hurt you. And you know I can.”

Keller took a step back and pushed his two goons forward.

“Take him!”

They looked at each other for an instant, then both lurched forward at once, hands reaching as if to grab him. Tommy sighed, settled into a stance, and centered his mass. The first one found Tommy’s foot buried in his stomach, knocking all of his air out with a whoosh and slamming him back into the closest wall. Continuing the spin from the kick, Tommy slammed his fist into the second one’s chin, snapping his head back and dropping him into a pile of full garbage bags by the dumpster, unconscious.

He smiled at Keller.

“Hell, Keller, looks like you need better people to fight your battles for you.” He took a step forward. “I’m not even breathing hard. And now it’s only you and me.”

“And me.”

The voice came from behind him, but he recognized it immediately.

“Tony!” He said with a grin. “Been a few weeks, man.”

“Hey, kid.” Tony DeFranco stepped forward, a big black metal flashlight in his hands. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Was walking home and got sidetracked. Keller here wanted to hurt this girl. Let me have him, ‘kay? We’ve been through this crap before.”

“Can’t do that, Tommy. I got a dog in this fight.” He motioned with his flashlight. “That’s my boy Joey.”

“See?” Keller sneered. “He knows the truth.”

“Shut up, dumbass.” Tony took a step forward. “In case you can’t figure it out, I am NOT your friend. That’s my son, asshole. And the only truth you need to know is that, if you don’t get the hell out of here right now and take your pals with you, I’m gonna beat on alla you with this flashlight until the batteries fall out. Then I’m gonna drive you all so far outta town it’ll take you weeks to crawl back — if you’re still able to crawl. Capische?”

“You can’t do that,” Keller said, a little fear creeping into his voice. “I’m just a kid.”

“So’s my son,” Tony growled, taking another step, “and you’d be surprised what a man will do to protect his own. How about it, Tommy? Will anybody miss him?”

“Are you kidding? They’d hold a parade in your honor, if anybody found out.” Tommy grinned at Keller. “Not that I’d tell.”

Tony nodded. “I thought as much. Good thing the limo’s got a nice big trunk.” He took another step and looked down at Keller. “Last chance, stupid. Go. Now. Or I’ll give you all a twenty-mile hike on broken legs.”

He grabbed the bully by the front of his shirt, lifted him up and threw him towards the street. The other two boys got up and ran after him, and Tommy could hear them running as fast as they could until the music from the club swallowed the sound.

Tommy moved to the mouth of the alley to make sure they were gone, and saw the tail end of Tony’s limo parked in front of the club. He turned back quickly to see Tony grab Josie by her arm and jerk her roughly to her feet.

“What were you thinking?” He roared at her. She whimpered and clutched Tommy’s jacket to her. “Were you thinking at all? Why did you leave the club before I got here? You coulda been — you coulda been — damn it, Joey, what the hell is your problem?”

Tommy saw her tears begin to fall again. He stepped forward.

“Tony, you’re scaring her.”

“He should be scared,” Tony replied, his anger making his voice tremble. “If it wasn’t for Tommy, who knows what woulda happened. And all because you think you’re a girl. Jesus H. Christ, Joey, take a look in the mirror when we get home. I changed your diapers, for Chrissake! You think I don’t know what you got?”

Josie trembled all over. “I can’t help what I feel, Daddy. I know who I am. Why can’t you see?”

Tommy moved past Tony and took his jacket back from Josie’s shaking hands. He shook it out and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“I think I need a cup of coffee,” he said, “and Josie needs to clean up before she heads home. I bet her mom is going to be freaked. I know her Dad is.”

Tony looked at Tommy, surprise pushing his anger aside almost instantly.

“Coffee?”

“Yeah, coffee. There’s a diner not too far from here. How about it?”

Tony turned away from Josie, his shoulders slumping. One hand reached up to massage his neck, and Tommy could see it shaking.

Finally, he got his voice back.

“Sure, coffee’s good. And you’re right, Estelle isn’t gonna be happy.”

Tommy put his arm around Josie and started leading her out to the street, He stopped and turned.

“Tony, can you cover me? I’m almost tapped. That’s why I was walking home.”

“Cover you? For coffee? Jesus, kid, I’ll buy out the diner if you’re hungry. And no more walking home for you. You ride for free from now on. Just say where and when.”

Tommy shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but you need to make a living.”

Tony put out his hand. “You stood up for mine, and that makes you family. Family rides free, okay? No arguments.”

The boy sighed. “Let’s just start with the coffee, okay?”

He walked Josie out to the limo. Tony took a deep, ragged breath, shook his head again, and followed.

###

By the time they reached the diner, Josie had straightened herself up in the limo and repaired her make-up. Still, she practically ran to the restroom while Tony and Tommy slipped into a booth. When the waitress came, they ordered three coffees and sat across from each other, suddenly silent. When Tony picked up his cup, Tommy could see his hand was still shaking.

“It’s hard,” Tommy said. “Isn’t it?”

Tony took a sip, then nodded.

“Came outta nowhere,” he replied. “Seemed like it to me, anyway. Joey’s never been much for sports or hangin’ with the guys, but I just figured that was him and let it go. Never thought for a second he’d come out and tell us he thinks he’s a girl. He said he felt like this for years.”

“It’s hard for both of you.” Tony looked up. The boy shrugged. “What, you think that was easy for her? To tell her old man somethin’ like that? Must have taken a lot of guts, to step up and tell you something she knew you didn’t want to hear. Something she knew would hurt you.” He grinned. “I think you’d call that being stand up, doing what you got to do, right?”

“You keep talking about him like he’s a she.” The driver rubbed his face with his free hand.

“That’s how she sees herself.” Tommy took a sip of his own coffee. “Who am I to disagree?”

“But it’s crazy, Tommy,” Tony said, his voice rising. “He’s not a girl!”

Tommy put his hand out and touched Tony’s sleeve. “Keep it down, huh? You really want to share that with everybody? Besides, you don’t know that. All you see is what’s on the outside.”

Tony looked down and moved his shoulders around. “That’s enough to know what’s what.”

“Is it?” The driver looked up into Tommy’s eyes. Tommy looked back. “You’ve been around, Tony. You’ve seen a lot of things. Are people always what they look like?”

The driver’s eyes flashed and his lips became a thin line. Tommy pressed on. “I mean, come on! You drive a limo! How many times you seen someone try to pass themselves off as something they aren’t? Guys in expensive suits, waving money around, acting like they’re something special. But you know different. You put their luggage in the trunk, and you know it’s nothing but cheap goods and attitude.”

“This is different,” Tony said, his eyes back on his cup.

“Yeah, it is. This time, it’s not about what’s outside. Josie isn’t trying to sell you a lie. She’s trying to get you to see the truth.”

Things went quiet for a while, and Tommy let the man think. Finally, the driver sighed. “If it’s not about what’s outside, why is she wearing those clothes?”

Tommy shrugged. “I don’t know, Tony. To me, clothes are clothes. But maybe it makes her feel more like the girl she is on the inside. Maybe it makes her feel better. Besides, how else is she gonna let the girl come out? How else are you gonna see her if she doesn’t wear the things she’s wearing?”

More silence. Tony looked back at the rest rooms.

“Taking a while back there.”

The boy grinned. “Girls usually do. We both know it’s worth the wait when they get back.”

Tony looked at the boy in front of him and smiled, shaking his head again.

“You’re too much, kid, I’ll give you that.” He reached out and out his hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Thanks for being there tonight. I meant what I said before. Free rides, and no argument.”

“Thanks, Tony. I’ll try not to take advantage.”

He nodded. “I know you won’t. You’re a good kid.”

More silence. Tony looked out onto the street and sighed.

“Shit, Tommy,” he said softly. “That’s my kid in the ladies room right now, and he almost got himself killed tonight, just trying to be the girl he thinks he is. What the hell am I gonna do?”

“What you did tonight,” Tommy replied. Tony looked back at him. “Stand up, man. Be there for her. We both know you love her. And she’s being stand-up about who and what she is. So don’t run her down. Back her up. She was stupid tonight, because it’s different for girls and she’s still learning that. But she needs to know where you stand, and that should be with her.”

He grinned. “Hey! She’s your daughter, right? Why don’t you show her what it means to be a girl — and have an Italian Dad?”

Tony stopped, thought for a moment, then grinned back. He reached out and ruffled Tommy’s hair. “Get out. Jeez, kid, when did you get so smart?”

“I just know who I am, Tony. I figured Josie knows that, too.”

The clack of heels on the linoleum floor alerted them both that Josie was coming back. She was much more collected, makeup fresh and every hair in place. Still, her eyes were down and she slid in next to Tommy, tucking her skirt under her when she sat. The boy put her cup in front of her.

“Feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you. And thank you for saving me tonight. I was stupid not to wait inside.”

Tony spoke. “Yes you were.”

She kept her eyes on her cup. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

“You should be.” His voice broke. “I almost lost you tonight. I’m not gonna let it happen again.”

Josie looked up, a little fear in her voice. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you are grounded, mist — missy. Starting right now.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Street’s ain’t safe for a girl alone unless she’s smart, and you ain’t, yet.” He sighed. “You don’t go out alone, and you let Mom or me know where the hell you are at all times. You got a cell phone, I expect you to use it. Understand?”

“Yes, Daddy.” A tentative smile grew on her lips. “You ... you called me a girl.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Yeah, well, a smart guy I know told me that you should know who you are better than I do, and I should shut up and let you be. Who am I to argue?” He looked back at her. “I’m just your Dad, that’s all. And until you know better what being a girl means out here, you stay home.”

He stood up and threw a few bills on the table.

“Until when?”

“Until I say so.” He looked down at her. “Until your mom and me are sure you’re gonna be safe. You got a problem with that?”

He could see the joy explode across her face, and she popped up out of the booth and threw her arms around him.

“No, Daddy!” Tony stiffened for an instant, then relaxed and put his arms around his new daughter.

“And don’t think hugs are gonna get you ungrounded before we think you’re ready. I’ve got four sisters, and I love ‘em all, but I know every trick in the book girls use to get what they want, prob’ly better than you.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“So let’s get Tommy home before he gets into more trouble. I figure he’s gonna have a story to tell when he gets back, just like we do.”

“Thanks, Tony.” Tommy slipped out of the booth and put this hand on Josie’s shoulder as they walked to the front door. “Appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it, kid. After all, I gotta keep an eye on you. Wise guys can be a lot of trouble, you know.”

“So I’ve heard.” The boy grinned. “Good thing I’m on your side.”

Tony threw a glance over his shoulder, and Tommy swore he saw a tear in the man’s eye.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “I guess it is.”

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