Queen of the May Pt Nine

I finally realised that everyone in the village had been helping "ME". They could have refused to do what the kids wanted, but didn`t. As a community, they went all out to help and support each other. The whole project was paid for Mrs Clegg, the biggest landowner in the area and an active member of most of the village committees and she was well liked by everyone.

Not for what she had, but for the person she was: kind, loving, gentle also very clever. She was the type of person that called a spade a spade. Although you might agree with her on some things you couldn't help not admiring her for her convictions.

I went to my room and started to get ready for the afternoon party, I had a lot to think about. I finally got the answers I had been looking for. I now knew that I would spend the rest of my life in dresses, but at least I now had some of the basic skills that I would need as a girl.

But I could now look to the future and the past, like dad said: now that I knew something about being a boy and girl and it would make me a better person.

Putting my thoughts in order, I continued to get ready and then I realised I would have to thank everyone in the village for what they'd done for me the past 15 months, not only for the money it all cost, but for the kindness and support they had given me.

When I was finally ready, I went down to lounge and found dad reading the newspaper, I asked him, "Can we talk?"

He put his paper away, after pulling me on to his knee he asked, "Is what the doctor told you, bothering you?"

"Although I didn`t understand most of what had been said, I now understood why the everything had happened when I came home from hospital. I accepted I would have to be girl for the rest of my life and had actually got used to wearing dresses. What I want to ask is how can I thank everybody?"

He looked at me and simply said "You`ll find a way."

Once we were all ready, we walked down to the village hall, the village itself was like a ghost town, all shops closed and nobody on the streets. We entered the hall and were met by Mrs Clegg and Ms Platt, they led us to a central table. The place was packed out with all the tables full.

As I was led to the table everyone stood up and there was a thunderous applause and everyone singing "Happy Birthday".

Once the song was over, I asked if I speak to everyone, I was led onto the stage and the microphone lowered. Then everybody went silent and I paused for a few moments, looking round the room before I started speaking.

"I would first of all like to thank everybody for coming to my party today. I would also like to thank everyone for all their hard work over the past few months. I know it wasn't easy for everyone and it was especially difficult for me.

"Today, everything was explained to me and now I can see what you were all trying to do. I apologize to anybody I upset with my attitude, I know I was bad tempered at times and sometimes wouldn't cooperate with you at all. I now realize that I`m going to have to keep living as a female as my body is changing form male to female.

"I know that it wasn't anyone's fault, that it just happened. I can`t really explain what is happening inside of me as I didn`t understand most of what I was told; too many big words.

"I would especially like to thank my family, Ms Platt and Mrs Clegg for all the patience that they had, and Mrs Clegg for everything she did. I've been told she funded everything. I`ll try to get round and thank everyone in person. I hope I haven`t let you all down over the last year. Thank you all, once again."

I went and sat down and dad hugged me and said how proud he was of me for my speech. There were a few other speakers, Ms Platt said she enjoyed helping me and that I was a better person and student than I had ever been, and that although my body was changing, I was still the same kind person I had always been.

Mrs Clegg said, "The expense didn`t matter and I was glad to help." Then, she called me back on stage and gave an envelope saying, "Just before you went into hospital the last time, you phoned the fire brigade and told then my barn was on fire."

"Yes, I did.

"Inside the barn there were several vehicles worth several hundred thousand pounds that had been delivered that day and that if it hadn't been for making that call they would have been lost."

I have spent several months trying to find out who made the call and until someone at the telephone exchange heard and recognized your voice, the mystery caller would have gone unrewarded."

"Jacqueline, we all know you and know you don`t look for rewards, you just carry on as if it nothing had happened. The people of our little community have notice you helping the old folk with their gardens and running to the shops for them, but not only the old folk.

"You help everyone just by being who you are, you`re always cheerful, polite and considerate. Everyone in the village knows how hard it`s been for you since your return from hospital. It was the kids of village that came up with the idea of you being Queen of May to help you with life and to thank you for being you."

She bent down and kissed me on the cheek and led me back to our table, I gave Mum the unopened envelope and she put it in her handbag. We sat down to eat our meal, and after it ended, the tables were moved out, chairs put against the walls and the dancing began.

Everyone was really enjoying themselves, especially when they started holding dance competitions with spot prizes for the younger kids. Several of the student council sat with me and we started talking.

Billy Noble came over and asked," Are you annoyed with me?"

"No, I'm not. Thanks for coming up with the idea in the first place," I gave him a hug and a kiss and all the kids cheered when they saw us.

I went round and spent a few minutes with each group of people thanking them and admitted it had been fun over the last year, although I felt embarrassed at first, it was hugs and kisses all round that day.

Just as the evening came to the end, the chairman of the parish council along with the vicar got on the stage to announce who the next year's Queen of May was to be. As usual, the pleasantry`s were got out of way and the with a flourish that made everyone laugh, the vicar produced an envelope.

He looked at me and asked, "Have you enjoyed the last year?"

"Yes, I have."

I was lifted on to the stage and was placed between the two men, the envelope was opened and I was asked," Once again,Jacqueline, are you sure that you have enjoyed this last year"

"Yes, I have. Why ask me again?"

They both looked down at me smiling, Mrs Clegg came back on stage and taking the envelope, opened it and said, "I`m glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Please, hurry up! My legs are getting cold! I am not wearing thick tights!"

Then a slip of paper with a name on it was taken from the envelope, "It is with great pleasure that next years Queen of the May is...." she paused looking at me, " Miss Jacqueline Marie McConnell."

I was shocked, I fully expected a riot, but instead, got a huge applause and everyone was smiling. The kids jumping up and down cheering. It was explained that although there were girls of right age this year, the village decided that for my first year as an official girl I was to be the 501th Queen of the May.

According to the rules, you could only do it once, but a special rule was brought in so I could be selected again and once again all the kids agreed 100%. Oh no! Another year of contests and pageants, at least I already had the outfits for it, I thought, but I had thought wrong.

Arrangements were being made for more dress fittings. Everyone came over and congratulated me, my parents told me not to worry about it and just go with the flow.