Chapter 17 Part 2
Majik!
Madame Regina: Okay Butchi let’s pick up where we left off. Why did Acker decide to turn you into a girl?
Butchi De Rose: This is kind of a long story, so bear with me. When I was younger and living with Acker in the back of her store, she had this little room off to the side. The room had a big, comfortable chair with a footrest, a bookshelf filled with some of Acker’s books and a record player and records. I used to spend a little time in this room either reading books or listening and singing along to the records. But the real purpose of this room was to be a place for women in the neighborhood to come in and “disappear” for a few hours. Somehow, Acker knew that women, in that era and living under these blue-collar circumstances, needed a respite every once in a while. Goodness knows they had precious few options back then. So Acker would let these women come in and spend some time away from the family if only to take a break. And Regina, I know for a fact your own mother used to come in every so often.
MR: I know. I used that in a previous chapter. My mother Dima came in with my older sister Mima Tessi, when she was just an infant, to buy a pack of cigarettes for my father and Acker let her stay in the room for a little while. I know that every time my mom and dad had an argument my mother would, as you so aptly put it, disappear --but only for a few hours.
BDR: And she would be in the backroom at Acker’s.
MR: My mom later told me where she went whenever things got too hot at home. She also said most of the men in the neighborhood never knew where their wives went whenever they needed to take a break.
BDR: Acker always kept that secret. Like if the women wanted to come in and not be seen, they would go in through the back door.
MR: And the funny thing is her dog Boodee would never bark at the women. He just barked at the goofy men –like my uncle Vlashko! (laughs)
BDR: (laughs) Oh goodness I remember him! He was quite a character!
MR: Yes…he was. But let’s get back to the original question shall we?
BDR: Okay. So Acker had this lounge for the neighborhood ladies who needed a place of refuge. Anyway, one day, while I was still in hiding and still a little boy, I was in that room listening to records. On the little table in the room someone left a tube of lipstick. I guess one of the women must have forgot it. I distinctly remember that it was a tube of Hazel Bishop Smear-proof lipstick in mauve. Well, needless to say, I was thrilled to make this discovery. You see, even back then, I knew I was different and I knew that I really wanted to be a girl. I was always like that. So I put on the lipstick and looked at myself in the little mirror hanging on the wall. As I was admiring myself, Acker walked in. I froze. I thought she would be angry with me. I was afraid she would be angry the way my aunt was when she once caught me trying on a pair of her nylon stockings. But Acker wasn’t angry at all. She just bent over and looked at me with the lipstick on and said, “Do you like doing that?” I didn’t know what to say at first so I just stood there. Then Acker stroked the top of my head and said, “Don’t be afraid, I’m not mad at you Tommy. It’s really okay if you like doing that.” I was relieved that she wasn’t mad, so I nodded my head and said I did like doing things like that. Then Acker smiled and left the room. I didn’t know what to do then so I sat down on that big chair. About a minute later, Acker came back and this time she had a little burgundy taffeta dress with a wide flouncy skirt on a hanger and a white petticoat. She hung them both on the coat rack and then said to me, “It’s here if you want sweetheart.” I have to tell you Regina I was amazed and excited! I couldn’t believe my good fortune! Without a moment’s hesitation, I took off my clothes and put on the petticoat and the dress. After that, I was absolutely in heaven! Then Acker knocked on the door, “Can I come in Tommy?” she said. I was so happy I just squealed out, “Yes!” Acker came in and saw me wearing the dress. I know at that moment I must have had the biggest smile on my face. She looked at me and said, “Oh you look so pretty!” I don’t think at that time I could have described how I was feeling. But I now know that at that point in my life, with all the things I went through, I had never before experienced such a sense of pure joy!
MR: Oh my god Butchi I’m starting to cry! That’s so beautiful!
BDR: I get a little teary eyed just telling the story. But anyway, Acker came into the room and this time she had a pair of patent leather Mary Janes and those little white lacy anklets –remember those? MR: I do! I wore those the first time I dressed up when I was little!
BDR: You know Regina when all this was happening I never gave a thought to why Acker just so happened to have these things in my size. When I asked her about it years later she