Charles — or rather, Charlene -- felt like crawling through a keyhole when Jake drove up to the church. Why did she ever agree to attend church? She knew that she would be ‘read’ and told not to come back.

“Wake up, sleepy head,” said Lizzie Jane. “Need to get ready for church.”

Church? That was the last thing Charles wanted to face. Although he had loved church and tried to be a good person, they had turned their back on him. He was a sinner — an abomination to God. That is what he had been told, so it must be Biblical.

“I bought you a pants suit to wear today,” said Lizzie Jane. “I paid for it out of the egg money. I will make you a dress this week.”

Pants suit? A dress? Suddenly Charles began to feel ashamed. He (she) had not gone out in public, but had always dressed in secret — that is, until his father found out. The church had prayed to cast out the demons, but their prayers did not produce any results.

He thought about the pants suit. Maybe that would not be too bad. He had seen some leisure suits men wore that were not much different from a pants suit.

“Breakfast is ready.”

Another surprise — pleasant, but surprising. Charles had been helping Lizzie Jane prepare breakfast. He (she) had been learning to cook and do the work of a housewife, although there weren’t any thoughts of ever getting married.

Still uncertain about attending church, Charles slowly began to get ready after a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits. “Light on the makeup,” Lizzie Jane had advised. That was understandable. The transition from male to female should be carefully planned. Although no one knew Charles in Carter’s Bend, except Jake, Lizzie Jane, and Doc Brown, Charles did not want to look like a transvestite.

Checking the makeup, Lizzie Jane stated, “Well, that will do, but we need just a little light lipstick and I have some earrings you can wear — clip on, of course. You don’t have pierced ears, do you?”

“Clip on will be okay.” Boys did not usually have their ears pierced — at least, not yet. Lizzie Jane looked at his Charles’ hair and decided that it would look okay pinned up. Charles had already started letting his hair grow a little, but it still made him (her) look boyish. With the hair pinned up and makeup, he (she) began to look more like a girl.

Time came to go. Jake had checked out the pickup and it seemed to be cranking okay. Often it had to be pushed off and cranked in gear while rolling. Lizzie Jane sat in the middle with Jake driving, Charles rode shotgun -- a southern term meaning sitting next to the window on the passenger side.

“You need a new name,” mentioned Lizzie Jane as they bounced along the country road. Although paved, it was rough with potholes scattered around. “Something besides Charles.” Thinking for a moment, she said, “I know! How about Charlene?”

Charles swallowed a lump as large as his throat. Lizzie Jane was serious. “It’s okay, I guess,” he (she) finally answered.

“Then Charlene it is,” said Lizzie Jane.

Charles — or rather, Charlene -- felt like crawling through a keyhole when Jake drove up to the church. Why did she ever agree to attend church? She knew that she would be ‘read’ and told not to come back. They might even turn against Lizzie Jane for bringing her.

“Well, here we are,” said Lizzie Jane. Noticing the hesitation, she said, “Well — get out.”

Charlene thought her knees would buckle under her. She felt very foolish and was sure that people would laugh. Shyly holding down her head, she walked beside Lizzie Jane with Jake in front. Seats were chosen about the center of the church.

The pastor were greeting parishioners as they arrived, finally making his way to Jake and Lizzie Jane. Staring at Charlene, he asked, “Who is this —ah — young lady?” Charlene knew by his greeting that she had been ‘read’.

“This is a friend who is staying with us for awhile — Charlene,” stated Lizzie Jane.

Still staring at her and grinning, he said, “Hello. My name is Alan Snow.”

The hymns were the same old songs the church had been singing for years. Everything seemed to be natural to Lizzie Jane. The deacons, between their naps, expressed approval of the sermon with the usual “amens”.

The members were friendly, particularly the ladies. They just had to meet Charlene and welcome her into the community. They knew about her Lizzie Jane adopting Linda and thought it marvelous that she would take another young lady into her home.

After service, the pastor stood at the back shaking hands and expressing words of appreciation to the attendees. When he came to Lizzie Jane, he whispered, “I want to see you before you leave.”

Lizzie Jane walked to the pickup with Jake and Charlene.

“Wait here,” she said. “Brother Snow wants to talk to me about something.”

Watching her go back toward the church, Charlene said, “It is about me, isn’t it?”

Jake replied, “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I know it is. I can feel it.”

“Well if so, Lizzie Jane has killed dinosaurs, captured murderers and counterfeiters and saved more than one life, so I am sure she can handle a little thing that may come up about you.”

Charlene looked at Jake and said, “Huh?”

“Take my word for it. She did all those things — yes, including killing a dinosaur when she was ten years old,” said Jake, referring to the time she traveled backwards through time when trapped in the Bermuda Triangle.

“You want to see me?” asked Lizzie Jane as she stuck out her hand to shake with Reverend Snow.

“Yes. That ‘Charlene’ you brought. She is a boy, isn’t she?”

“Well, partially. She has a girl’s soul in a boy’s body. What difference would that make?”

“That is an abomination to God.”

“I find nothing in the Bible objecting to her condition. From what I have read, Charlene is a transsexual, like Christine Jorgensen. There is no scripture that even mentions that.”

“How about Deuteronomy 22:5 where the Bible says that a man shall not put on a woman’s garment, for all that do are abomination unto God?” asked Reverend Snow.

“In the first place, it says that a man shall not wear a woman’s garment. Charlene is not a man. She is a girl in a boy’s body. In the second place, that is the Old Testament. You are not going against what you taught us are you — that we are under grace and not under law? Deuteronomy 22:5 was part of the law.”

“I believe it applies to us today.”

“Well, then I suggest that you put a parapet for the roof of your house, never wear nylon and polyester clothing together, and if you catch a couple committing adultery, you put both to death because you will find all of that in Deuteronomy, chapter 22,” answered Lizzie Jane in a very determined tone.

“God doesn’t make mistakes. He was born a boy and will always be a boy.”

“How about Ben’s granddaughter — born deaf? Or how about Harold and Jane’s little crippled boy? Are they mistakes? No, God does not make mistakes, but he allows people to be born with birth defects. God does not cause babies to be born deaf or cripple -- or even transsexual. That is the result of an imperfect world made imperfect by Adam’s sin!”

“Elizabeth, you and your family are well thought of around here. Don’t ruin that!”

“I do not intend to ruin my reputation. I love people and I am proving that now by taking Charlene into my home and helping her toward what she should be. I think that is what Jesus would like for me to do.”

“Homosexuality is wrong!”

“Transsexuality is not homosexuality. I don’t believe Charlene is interested in men right now — not even women. She is concerned about spreading the love that God has put into her heart. She was raised in church and you are going to deny her that right? Our church is known for its love for everyone and the welcome mat is out for whosoever will to come. I am standing on the church’s claim to that.”

“Well, I don’t think…”

“Why don’t you just keep quiet and let Charlene prove that she is a Christian girl and the only way to prove that is to watch her life. That is all I ask. Are you going to ask her to leave — or force her to?”

Reverend Snow seemed to give some thought to the matter and then replied, “Well, if we run her off, we will not be able to help her.”

Reverend Snow suddenly realized what he had said. He had called Charlene by the pronoun, ‘her’. Maybe Lizzie Jane was getting to him. Lizzie Jane was well thought of by the church and the community. She had shown herself to be a loving, sweet lady, ready to help in any situation. Maybe this was just another ‘situation’.

“I will still have second thoughts so I will be watching — and praying.”

“Well, Brother Snow. I would expect you to pray — now wouldn’t I?” said Lizzie Jane as a big smile appeared on her face.

Reverend Snow smiled back.

“What happened?” asked Jake as Lizzie Jane walked back to the pickup.

“Oh nothing — just the love of God being manifested,” she said. “Let’s go home. Charlene and I need to fix dinner. I am hungry.”

Riding back to their home, Lizzie Jane opened her Bible to Deuteronomy, Chapter 22.

“Whatcha reading?” asked Jake.

“Oh, something in the Bible which we discussed. I wanted to see if what I said was right. I had read it before, but was not sure that I was remembering correctly."

“You mean you mentioned things in the Bible that you did not know about for sure — and in a discussion with a man of God?”

“Jake, it wasn’t me who was talking,” smiled Lizzie Jane.

Jake remembered the scripture where Jesus told his disciples that in meeting opposition to give no thought for what you will say for it will be given in that same hour what you shall speak.

____________________________________________________

--To be continued

Copyright 2008 by Billie Sue Pilgrim