Momma shouts up the stairs, “Paige? Francie? Are you girls ready? Angi and I are leaving!”

I poke my head around the corner and say loud enough that Momma can hear at the bottom of the stairs, “Just a minute Momma. I can’t get my bag zipped!”

I go back into my room and Francie comes and SITS on my bag. I quickly zip it and pray that the zipper will hold against the bulging pressure mounting from the inside. I pull it up onto its wheels with a grunt and start pulling it towards the stairs. I look back and give Francie a cheeky look and ask, “Coming?”

Francie giggles and goes to get her own bag. We navigate them down the stairs and to the garage. We load them into Momma’s Mercedes SUV and climb into the back seat. Momma and Mummy are waiting for us in the front—making a good effort at pretending to be impatient. I look at the clock and it reads five a.m. I yawn.

Momma starts the car and backs out. Alecia’s grandparents offered us to stay with them at their ski chalet for Christmas as payment for the time that Alecia spent with us here in Mummy’s house over fall break and Mummy’s support. Alecia truly has grown as a person and is adjusting well to becoming the girl she is meant to be, especially with Mummy’s help.

I am still not sure how it is all supposed to work out with Mindy here and us there—but Momma says she has it handled. I don’t ask any questions—I think I REALLY don’t want to know.

It is a little over a ten-hour drive to where we are headed and we all take a turn at the wheel. We also have a great time as a group—singing Christmas carols and sipping hot chocolate the whole way. When we get there, we are all blown away by the ‘chalet’—it is more like a Swiss mansion. Alecia’s grandparents are there—and so is Alecia.

We all hug and giggle and sit down to a supper of a hearty, hot chowder and crusty, warm bread with butter. I am even allowed a little wine. The food is wonderful and the mood is so…relaxed; but appropriately somber—in honor of this time of year.

I still can’t believe that Alecia is, well…Alecia. I mean, she is a lovely girl—in all senses of the word. And her grandparents—there is NO way that they can be related to…Misty. They are SO NICE! I don’t know how much they know about…Misty…but, I have a feeling that they are not ignorant about at least SOME of the details.

We finish eating and make plans to go skiing in the morning. We all go up to get ready for bed. I wash and moisturize my face and stretch as I climb into the heavenly, comfortable bed, Francie and I have separate rooms—at least officially. It doesn’t take long for her to climb in bed with me, though.

I wake up and look around the room—it is beautiful! I look into Francie’s eyes, in bed next to me and smile wider. She wakes up and smiles at me. We kiss and get up to get ready. We neither one know ONE THING about skiing, but ‘Gramma Jenny’ is going to be our teacher.

Alecia rushes into our room, already dressed, and without knocking. I turn a little red and say, “Ummm…Alecia? Maybe knock next time?”

She giggles and says, “It’s just us girls, right? And I totally KNEW that you and Francie were in here together. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Gramma and Grampa! Although, I don’t think they would care—they are both TOTALLY in love with you both.”

We get into our skiing outfits and hurry down to meet up with Gramma. We spend the morning learning how to ‘plow’ on the ‘bunny slope’. By lunch, we are pretty good at it and Gramma says that we will pick it up again tomorrow.

I sigh, because I have to go back and work on the ‘House’ spreadsheet for school. Gramma goes to meet up with the rest for an afternoon of REAL skiing. Francie and I look at each other and giggle as she expertly skis to the lift to one of the ‘black’ (expert) slopes.

After a wonderful lunch that Francie and I put together (who knew I could BE so hungry), I work on the spreadsheet in the sunroom and Francie lounges and reads a steamy romance novel. After two hours, I have Pink House sorted out… I go over and kiss Francie and she pulls me into a deeper one…

We go down to help with supper after we both take a bath to clean up and get relaxed. After we eat, we all play a bunch of board games and have an overall great time. Bed comes all too soon, but is certainly welcome—we are all dead tired after the exciting day; well those of us that aren’t USED to skiing, anyways.

The next days are basic repeats of the first. Ski lessons for Francie and me in the morning (Momma and Mummy both already know how—who knew?) and Francie relaxing while I work on the ‘Houses’ in the afternoons; then fun and games in the evening.

Mummy continues to work with Alecia and she is making a LOT of progress, especially physically—those hormones are really kicking in. Mummy is even ready to give her an implant. And she actually gets it on Christmas day. Needless to say, there aren’t any better presents that anyone else gets!

Overall, Christmas day is a wonderful day. There is so much camaraderie, so much love—so many presents. None of those can light a candle to the feeling of belonging—the only thing that will make that better is when the wedding happens next summer. Nothing can REPLACE Dad—but this is a VERY close clone. Even gaining new ‘grandparents’ is so fulfilling… I never knew Dad’s parents...

Alecia knocks on my door after Christmas dinner. She pulls me out of my somber reverie. I smile as I invite her in. She sits on the bed next to me and I brush out her now shoulder-length hair. She sighs in contentment and asks me, “Paige, are you really OK with your implant. I mean, I TRULY am so grateful for mine—I AM Alecia. I couldn’t have gotten a better Christmas present from Angi. I…I…I feel so sorry for what my Dad did to you… It is so unfair!”

I hug her and say, “Alecia, Hon. I am at peace with my lot. No, I would not have chosen this path. Yes, I am truly happy. Things happen for a reason. Look at us now. We are a tight-knit family—all of us, together. I’m sorry your Dad isn’t part of that—I truly am. I know what it’s like to lose a Dad.”

We hug each other and cry together. Then we fix each other’s makeup and go down for family night.

That night, I reflect on the last several days. Christmas is awesome in this community—and our family seems to have truly grown. We are fully accepted by Alecia and her grandparents. And they are fully accepted by us.

So, it is no surprise that the new year is rung in with love and commitments for a full and meaningful year by all of us. Oh, I also get to try champagne for the first time—not really a fan (although, it IS better with orange juice). I hug and kiss my love, Francie. I hug Alecia and whisper to her, “Welcome to the family, GIRL!” She smiles so brightly; it truly warms my heart (or it COULD be the champagne…)

The two weeks are gone in the blink of an eye and we are packing up to go back home. Francie and I both actually make it down a ‘red’ (intermediate) slope on the last day. The last night is another big meal and loads of ‘family time’.

We leave the next morning amidst promises of another ‘family reunion’ here at the Chateau for Easter. I hug Gramma and Grampa and they hug me back, tightly. Gramma whispers in my ear, “You are a special lady, Paige. Thank you for what you’re doing for Alecia. And…don’t you DARE let Francie go—she is JUST as special.” She winks at me as she breaks the hug and I blush bright red.

The ride back is somehow longer than the ride there. At least I have time to finish the spreadsheet in the car. I smile as I save it and say, “Done! Every student is assigned to a house—and PINKS still ROCK!”

Mummy is driving and giggles. She looks at me in the mirror and says, “Good work, Love! This is going to work. I just know it!”

I stand on the stage for our first assembly. Ronnie has turned the microphone over to me. She has explained most of how this is to work—a month in the assigned house; a house-related project (self-defined, but meaningful); a chance to change houses ONCE during the month (with GOOD reason); and then houses become voluntary.

I step up to the microphone and say, in a nervous tone, “Hi everyone. Umm…well, the house rosters will be posted by the time assembly is over. If you’re in Pink house, then come see me—I’m head pink. Miss Ferguson did not go into the houses, there is pink, green, blue…”

I am SO glad THAT is over. It took me a half hour to explain the houses. There are some incredulous looks about such house as yellow (lesbians) or lavender (gay boys) or that there could be too many in any other than pink or blue. Of course, there ARE some openly gays…and their scores DID substantiate their status. Of course, I KNOW there are going to be surprises—and lots of grumbling—and hopefully, some ‘coming outs’…

After I meet with the heads of the houses (these had been selected based on scores and willingness to lead), I go to Room 326—‘Pink HQ’ and wait for my initiates. A good number of them are on the cheer team—no surprise there. Several are guys that I would NEVER have pegged as potential TG; let alone pink material. The others are more or less no surprise—all genetic females…

The group trickles in. I hug my cheer peeps as they come in. Of course, Penny and Paulette are yellow…but COULD transfer to pink later, if they choose.

When Jonathan and Greg come in—they are both furious. They are seniors—there are several other boys that are in lower grades and they all look shell-shocked to be here—ten, in all. Jonathan says, “This is an OUTRAGE! How did I get assigned to this…this…this PINK HELL?” Greg looks less furious, but not really happy, either.

I say, “Calm down, Jonathan, right? I promise you that the test doesn’t lie. You are here for a reason. Now, you can fight it. You can ignore it. You can even be a bitch about it. But, for the next month, you’re going to HAVE to get used to it. In two weeks, you can change WITH GOOD REASON, if you so choose. The same goes for ALL of you… Now, can we please all sit down. Since we are a mixture of grades and I don’t think everyone knows everyone…”

We spend the next half hour telling each other who we are. Some are more open than others. Then Ronnie stops by and reminds everyone about the grade aspects of this and people become more ‘engaged’.

I close the session by saying, “OK, fellow pinks. First, always remember that pinks ROCK—we ARE the best. Second, we always want to show that we are pinks. I will be dressing accordingly over the next month. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to DRESS in pink—just, well in a very feminine way. Jonathan and Greg—you’ll have to decide how you show your allegiance for the next two weeks. Give an honest try and if you still feel that you don’t belong in two weeks, I won’t stand in your way of transferring.”

Jonathan grumbles—to put it mildly. Greg looks thoughtful. The other girls are already making plans amongst themselves. I smile—I have forty-eight pinks; well, I am pretty sure I have thirty-six—the boys…well, time will tell.