Thank you for reading the story of Joe, Thomas, Mark, Belinda, Robert and sundry other characters. It is a cold, overcast morning in Hillsborough, NC but I hear the birds singing and the promise of spring is in the air.
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Mac
Summer 2019
"Well, you are brave this morning, Fr. Thomas."
Thomas looked at the attractive elderly woman and smiled.
"How so?"
"You are wearing a pink shirt. When I was coming along men didn't wear pink shirt unless they were....you know..." At that point, she did a limp wrist movement.
Thomas hesitated a few seconds processing what he had just heard. "I am....you know....." At that point, he did a limp wrist movement. "Always have been, always will be." He gave her a big smile.
She stuttered. "I didn't mean to offend you father."
"I am not offended. No one should be offended to acknowledge who and what they are."
Belinda stood beside him staring back and forth at the repartee.
Thomas smiled, wished her a blessed day and said they had shopping to do.
The morning had started easy enough. Mark and the kids came over for breakfast and a trip to the Farmer's Market. Joe had made blueberry muffins and coffee for an early snack. He said they would have breakfast after Thomas and Belinda made the trip to the market. He said he had some carpentry to do in the Mill House before he started cooking. Mark and Robert asked if they could help. Joe, of course, smiled and said he could always use help. Belinda had grabbed the handle of the wagon to pull it for their shopping trip. Thomas knew once it was loaded, he would need to pull it back to the house.
Belinda was dressed in an androgynous way. Jeans and a t-shirt that was tied at the side. Her hair was coiffed in a girlish fashion with a pink French barrette. And flip flops. Her toe nails were painted pink. Thomas wore khaki shorts and a pink Izod. He too wore flip flops. He looked like an older man taking his grandchild to the market. He left the wagon with Becky and Alice and started walking down the aisle. Mark had given him a list of things to purchase along with a wad of cash. He pulled it out of his wallet and said if that wasn't enough to let him know and he could get more cash to pay me back.
"Let's start at the far end and make our way back."
Belinda held his hand as they made their way through people in the market. Just as they were approaching the end, they heard a woman call Army's name. Belinda moved in closer to Thomas. A young, overweight, brightly made-up woman approached them and asked Army where her daddy was.
"He's with Uncle Joe this morning."
She looked at Thomas and asked who he was. Thomas introduced himself.
"Just who is Uncle Joe? I don't think you have an Uncle Joe, darling." Thomas could see the fear in Belinda's face.
"Uncle Joe is in fact my husband. Mark and Robert are at the house helping him with a construction project while we are here shopping. We are also having brunch when we get back."
Faith looked like someone had slapped her in the face.
"I ain't having this." She reached over and tried to grab Belinda as she moved behind Thomas. Faith's dangly bracelets were tingling. She wore multiple bracelets and one got caught in Belinda's hair.
"Oww, let me go. Help me Uncle Thomas."
Thomas swooped Belinda in his arms. Faith's bracelets were still caught in Belinda's hair. Thomas automatically started to untangle them.
"Don't touch me, you faggot. You need to give me my nephew right now of I will call the police."
Becky and Alice walked up and asked Faith if there was a problem. She stared at them like they were not worthy to be talking to her.
Alice moved between Thomas and Faith. "Perhaps you are hard of hearing with that poofy hair of yours. We asked if there was a problem."
Faith stared at them and said she would be right back. She started a fast walk to the Sheriff's Department which was across the parking lot from the Farmer's Market.
Becky and Alice asked if everyone was okay and Thomas assured them that they were. Alice decided to stay close by in case Thomas needed them while Brenda went back to their booth. Belinda and Thomas started making their way through the market when Faith returned with a deputy.
"Good morning, Father Thomas. How are you today?" Thomas looked at Deputy Cartwright whom he knew.
"I am well, deputy. How are you this fine morning?"
"I am doing pretty doggone good for a Saturday. Who is this with you this morning?"
Belinda reached out her hand and introduced herself. Faith flew into a rage.
"His name is Army and not Belinda. He is my nephew and I don't know what this man has done with his father and brother. I demand that Army come with me right now."
Belinda hung closer to Thomas who waited and didn't respond.
"Father, can I talk with you over here?" He motioned to a quiet area away from the market. Thomas moved in the direction requested without putting down Belinda. He was afraid the woman would grab the child and leave. Becky placed herself between Faith and the deputy, Thomas and Belinda. She wasn't going to let Faith get near them.
"Can I ask you what is going on?"
"Of course. Mark, who is Faith's brother, came over this morning for breakfast. He and his son, Robert, are at the house helping Joe with a carpentry project. We are restoring the old Mill House on the property. Belinda and I are here doing some shopping before the market closes. When we get back, we will have a late breakfast."
The deputy nodded that he understood.
He looked at Belinda and said he misunderstood her name.
"Belinda. My name is Belinda."
"Well, Miss Faith said your name is Army."
"I hate that name. My name is Belinda."
The deputy looked at Thomas not knowing what to do.
"I suggest you call Mark and he will tell you that Belinda and I are shopping. That should put an end to the mystery."
Thomas gave Deputy Cartwright the telephone number to call. Mark confirmed that his child, Belinda, was shopping with Thomas with his permission. Mark was concerned that something had happened to Belinda. The Deputy said she was okay, but his sister was causing a bit of a raucous at the market.
"Don't let my sister take my child. Thomas is there with Belinda. Oh hell, give me five minutes and I will be there to clear this up."
Belinda was in Thomas' arms and had her arms around his neck. "Don't let her take me, Uncle Thomas. Please don't let her take me."
The deputy spoke up and said no one was taking her and that her daddy was on the way.
Less than five minutes later, Mark, Robert and Joe were at the front of the market looking for them. Mark saw the deputy and started moving through the crowd. Most were shopping but also paying attention to the commotion that Faith had caused. Family fights among the 'nice' people in town almost never happened publicly and the people at the market wanted a front row seat of a fight in an old, established family in Hillsborough.
"What is the meaning of this, Mark?" Faith was in a high drama mode.
"Faith, quieten your voice and we can have a conversation."
"Don't tell me to be quiet when some old queer has my nephew and turned him into a girl. This is an abomination. This is against God's teachings." Everything in the market had quietened as Faith ramped up.
"Come with me, Army. Your Auntie Faith will take care of you."
Everyone could hear Belinda screaming as Faith grabbed Belinda's arm. Belinda refused to let go and Thomas was holding her firmly in his arms. Before Mark could intervene, Deputy Cartwright put his hand on Faith's arm and told her quietly that she was not taking the child. "Please let Belinda loose so I don't have to arrest you, Miss Faith."
"Arrest me? How dare you? Do you know who I am?" Faith was screaming so all could hear.
"Yes, ma'am, I do know who you are. I also know Mark and this is his child. Unless he gives you permission to take his child what you are proposing to do is called abduction of a minor. I do not want to arrest you and take you to jail."
"I'm not going to jail. He should be going to jail for turning his son into a queer. Look at these old queers. Mark, are you a queer also?" Gasps could be heard from other shoppers.
Mark had lost all color in his face. He stood stoic but couldn't speak.
"Miss Faith, come with me. This is enough for today." At that point, Deputy Cartwright walked Faith to the sheriff's department.
Joe gave Mark a hug and told him they needed to finish their construction project. Robert grabbed Joe's hand and then his daddy's hand and walked them through the crowd and out of the market. The crowds parted as the three of them walked from one end of the market building to the other. Already people were whispering. Mark could only look forward; he knew if he looked to the side and saw someone give him a disapproving look he would cut them out of his life forever.
Thomas realized it was important to normalize everything for Belinda. He pulled out the shopping list and told her they needed to figure out what they had left to purchase. Belinda was starting to retreat into herself so Thomas made her talk to each of the farmers and tell them what was needed. She quickly perked up as they would smile and thank her for her order.
Cirese, at the bakery stand, gave Belinda a cookie. "This is Thomas' favorite cookie but I notice he is getting a little chubby so I am going to give it to you instead." Cirese smiled at Thomas in a way of asking forgiveness for her statement but also wanted Belinda to know that she was special. Belinda took one bite and her eyes rolled back in her head. A smile crossed her face.
"I know why this is your favorite cookie, Uncle Thomas. Miss Cirese, this is delicious. Can I have one to take to Robert?" Thomas pulled out the money to pay and Cirese just waved her hand as she pushed it away. "Free cookies for the children today. They are a gift in our lives. Take care of this special child." As they were leaving the market, Thomas heard a voice saying, "Father Thomas, you are a brave man. It is more than that pink shirt. If I ever need someone to be on my side, I am calling you. Bless you for taking care of this child today." Thomas and Belinda stopped and gave the woman a hug. Belinda kissed her on both cheeks.
Thomas had the wagon handle in one hand and Belinda's hand in the other as he pulled the wagon. Thomas hadn't realized how emotional he would be after the encounter. He was struggling not to well up and cry. It was difficult seeing a family being torn asunder and yet he knew that the fight was just beginning. He decided he and Belinda needed affirmations from others so he turned and walked toward North Churton Street.
As they approached the corner of Margaret Lane and Churton Street he saw protesters. They were carrying flags and placards. He stooped and picked up Belinda.
"Let me carry you through this crowd. Okay?"
"Yes, Uncle Thomas. Who are these people?"
There were protesters carrying Confederate Battle Flags at the corner. They were yelling racist remarks and he saw that several of them were armed. He felt better when he saw deputies coming out of the sheriff's department and heading to the corner. He thought he had made absolutely the wrong decision. Then he saw the group he was looking for. The rainbow flag was being waved on the other side of the street. There were placards. Then he saw the trans flag. He couldn't suppress the smile that was spreading across his face.
He and Belinda crossed the street and were surrounded by a colorful array of folks. Blacks, white, Asians, Hispanics, gays, straights, lesbians and then the trans community. Everyone wanted to say hello to Belinda. She reached out and shook everyone's hands. She was a star and people were enchanted. Thomas could tell some people were trying to figure out Belinda's sex. They knew her gender. That made him smile even more when he realized it really didn't matter. They wanted to be sensitive to this beautiful outgoing child.
They approached the group with the trans flags and Thomas put Belinda down so she could walk. Belinda approached a man and started talking with him. Others were bending down to talk with Belinda. Then Thomas heard, "Yes, my name is Armistead but my real name is Belinda. God got mixed up and gave me a boy's body but I am really a girl. My daddy is helping me fix this mess. It is a big mess. Uncle Thomas is with me today. My Aunt Faith just tried to kidnap me but I held onto Uncle Thomas until my daddy, Robert and Uncle Joe got there. The police took her away." All Thomas could think was, 'she has no filter on what she tells people' as he saw the group look in awe at this young child. Several were in tears. They all wanted to talk with her. She was admiring jewelry that a young woman was wearing. The woman took off a glittering pin and put it on Belinda's t-shirt.
"That is for you being my hero today." People were oohing and ahhing over the brooch and told Belinda that she was beautiful. Thomas didn't think he had seen her smile more than she was doing at that moment.
"Belinda, we need to get home for breakfast." She didn't want to leave.
"I want to stay here with my friends, Uncle Thomas."
"I know, sweetheart, but Uncle Joe has cooked us some good food. We don't want to eat cold eggs. They are yucky." Belinda giggled.
As they were leaving Belinda wanted to kiss each of them on both cheeks. She said she was feeling very French because she was wearing a French barrette. Several people laughed and kissed her back. She was the center of their attention. Belinda told them she would be back the next Saturday.
"Please, Uncle Thomas. We are coming back next Saturday. Please."
Thomas laughed and said he might be able to arrange for them to come back. A young girl walked up to Thomas and asked if they were going to Durham Pride Parade in September. Thomas said they were still learning the area and was glad to know when Pride was going to be held.
"The reason I am asking is that we elect Miss Gay Pride Durham. I am a contestant but I would like for Belinda to join us. I think I can get folks to agree to make her Little Miss Gay Pride Durham."
"Do I get a crown?"
"And a sash, darling. And a trophy. You get the whole poupou platter. Plus, you get to walk the stage and wave to your fans."
Belinda was beaming at the thought of having all of those things.
"Uncle Thomas, you need to talk to daddy and tell him we have to do this."
"Okay, we will be back next week to get more information. I can't speak for her dad."
Belinda could barely get the words out over breakfast. She was so excited.
"I bet I get to ride in a car and I can wave at people. Pleaaaaase daddy, say yes." Mark was gob smacked and didn't know how to appropriately respond.
"Tell me again, how did you and Uncle Thomas end up in the middle of the demonstration this morning." He was looking at Thomas when he asked the question. It wasn't a reproving look but he certainly didn't look too happy. He knew it could have easily turned violent.
Belinda looked like she was pondering what he had asked, and then spoke. "I don't know what a demostate is, but Uncle Thomas and I were walking up the street and suddenly I found all of these people who are just like me. Daddy, they are just like me! I have never met people like me before. Only some are girls who are really supposed to be boys. Do they grow pee-pees when they decide they want to be boys?"
Joe snorted coffee through his nose. Thomas was patting him on the back while he was choking and coughing.
"What is wrong Uncle Joe? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, my princess, you said everything right. My coffee just went down the wrong way."
The rest of the meal was eaten while Joe, Mark and Robert talked about the final work to be done in the Mill House.
"I reckon that I can get an occupancy permit within the next few weeks. It is nice to have that project just about finished."
Mark and Robert said they would come by every afternoon to help so that it would be finished. Mark thought that Joe had done a great job designing the interior so it was a house but you could still tell it had been a mill.
Thomas excused himself and said he needed to review his sermon for the next day. Mark and his children went into the backyard and climbed in the hammock where they fell asleep. Joe stood in the kitchen thinking about his life with Thomas and that they had always found the strays, the social misfits and those in need. He had met the most fascinating people because he was with his wonderful husband and it had changed their lives in a most fundamental way.