A Cinderella Story

Billie Jean Jones

Once upon a time,
not so long ago,
and not too far away...

...in the Constellation of California, there lived a little girl who was about six foot tall in her stockinged feet. While she was a tall girl, and a bit over thirty years old, she was still a "little girl" because she had been a boy and a man for over forty years. So she was an adolescent girl, and she was a somewhat mature man, also. And while fifteen years may seem like more than a "bit" over thirty, she didn't think so.
As it happened, she had unfurled from the darkness of her cocoon, tested her wings and began displaying her colors on Earth date 17 November 1990. Less than a year later she flew to the "wrong" coast and alighted in Provincetown Massachusetts in order to attend the seventeenth annual Fantasia Fair. While there, she interfaced with a variety of other creatures similar to herself; that is to say, she found herself in the company of a great number of changelings in various stages of transformation. For ten days they congregated in rainbow hues and flashed their colors to the sun, and to the moon and stars. She only had one mild regret. Her son and his musical friends were to record the music for a song she had written and send her the tape so she could sing at a special event called "The FanFair Follies." Owing to her distorted sense of time, the tape arrived after the Follies. Otherwise, she had a great time.
She flew back to the "left" coast and resumed her schedule of writing every day, eating, sleeping, visiting, and displaying her colors. As it happened, she was considering an article about an annual event called the "Miss ETVC Cotillion," for a magazine. While she had never been to a Cotillion before, she was a member of ETVC, the sponsoring organization, which was also located in the Constellation of California. ETVC maintained a monthly cycle of socials in the Big City by the Bay, and in November of 1991, while fluttering about with the other butterflies, moths, and changelings in various stages, she found out the auditions for the "Talent" portion of the Cotillion would occur in three days. Intrigued at the possibility of writing about the Cotillion from an insider's perspective (and finally performing her song), she decided to audition as a "prospective contestant." She returned to her nest, mildly concerned with her lack of talent, but determined to proceed. (Now it must be noted that she had never even thought of entering a Pageant; nor had she ever publicly performed one of her songs. Additionally, she wanted to revise her song's music.) They finished revising the tape late Saturday night.
Early Sunday morning, she unfurled, groomed herself and took off for the sparkling Big City by the Bay. On the way, she rehearsed her song for the first time, singing and memorizing the words while the tape played over and over and over:
"A lotta people in this world
Don't know if they're a boy or a girl
They're living double - it's really hard
Ya gotta carry two ID cards...
She arrived, entered, met the other changeling aspirants, watched and listened to the auditions, and performed her song while holding the lyrics in shaking hands.
"...travel under moon and stars
Sit in corners in hide-away bars
While people treat you like-
you're from Mars.
Hey, hey now-
Why they do like they do?"

Afterward, she and the others had to wait outside while the decisions were being made. Thus began the Bond-of-Eight, for there were eight aspirants to the title. In the little circle outside, they shivered in the shadow of the day while warming to each other until they were called back inside and informed that all had "passed the audition."
And so it was that Pammela, Evette, Deirdre, Leslie, Lauren, Summer, Shawna, and Billie Jean became contestants for Miss ETVC 1992/93. While returning to her nest from the audition, Billie Jean reflected on what she had learned so far- the contestants would be judged in four segments: The Interview, which would occur a week before the Cotillion; the Talent, Activewear, and Evening Gown segments which would be judged at the actual Cotillion. She tried to imagine what the next six weeks would be like, and decided that "contestant" wasn't the correct word, for she could visualize that over the next six weeks they would all share and help one another prepare.
When she returned, she called her son, whom she often called "Sunny-Boy" but whose name was Jesse James, and informed him of the results. He was happy and promised to redo the music again, which she wanted to rearrange one more time. Then she called her daughter, whom she often called "Dodder" but whose name was Cinderella, and they blabbed and laughed about the wonders of the Universe also. Cinderella offered to share her studio apartment the weekend of the Cotillion with Billie Jean, as her apartment was in the sparkling Big City by the Bay, and Billie Jean's apartment was located on the surface of a somewhat barren asteroid known as Sacramento, which she occasionally called "Sacra-demento" owing to its peculiar mix of beings, many of whom claimed to work for the State Government, which as anyone knows, hasn't worked for some time.
Each weekend brought new challenges to the Bond-of-Eight, which actually consisted of a Circle-of-Nine, including the Cotillion Director, Stephanie, and sometimes Ten, when Laurie, spouse to Deirdre, assisted. A Feminine Image Consultant worked with the changelings as regards their presentations, and helped coach them in preparation of The Interview. A former Miss Gay Universe worked with everyone as regards their performing, walking and modelling.
Subsequently, the Circle proceeded on its own to practice and perfect their actions, timing and presentations.
Meanwhile, the planet wobbled on, deeper into its winter orbit phase with holidays flashing by and only a few frantic shopping days left before the Cotillion, which was to be held on Earth date 11 January 1992. Time and space began to inevitably coincide on 5 January when all the aspirants arrived for their Interviews with the three judges, who consisted of an Image Consultant; a Professor of Theatrical Makeup; and a former Empress/stellar Drag Queen. Each aspirant had to interview with each of the judges, a process which took several hours. Afterward, they were informed a fifth, non-judged segment had been added: each was to be "presented" during the opening number, which required them to be escorted on stage by one of the dancers, then go stand cheerfully in the background. This also required an additional outfit, which was agreed to be "business wear." Thereafter followed four days of madness as each aspirant scrambled to pull together every item (of which there were hundreds) necessary for the Cotillion.
On 10 January, all the aspirants, except Summer, flocked into the Big City by the Bay for their first Dress Rehearsal at the California Club, location of the Cotillion. Billie Jean's boy-self arrived at Cinderella's apartment with enough stuff for a weeks' stay, transformed to herself, kissed Dodder farewell and flitted off to join her sisters at the Club. There they had to rehearse the opening number for the first time, which took a long time because of confusion as to how to stage the entrance and when to move to the back of the stage. Finally, after two hours, the aspirants raced into the backstage dressing room and rapidly proceeded to shed clothing willie-nillie, and jam on their activewear wardrobe while being timed: Tic-Toc, time's up.
Let's join the changelings lining up backstage where they're wondering if they have everything on, and one by one, presenting themselves across the stage, zigging onto the runway, and zagging back in their most graceful, yet athletic and active way. "One more time," the Director directs as the first starts to slip into the dressing room for the next wardrobe change. And so we see the line moving forward but it always has six people in it, and when one leaves the front, another joins the end until Stephanie calls: "Okay, change!" And the changelings respond instantly, thudding into the dressing room on rubber soled feet amidst shouts and giggles, they begin flinging articles of activewear thither and yon while the clock says, "Tic-Toc" but no one hears it for they are operating at warp speed and even that is too slow. "Clickity-clackity," their heels tap as they gather in the wings, talking and laughing among themselves.
"Quiet, please," Stephanie says. "Give your tapes to Earl the Pearl and line up in order." And so they do. And Earl the Pearl plays the tapes one by one as they rehearse their talent, except for Lauren who plays her own guitar, and Pammela who does a stand-up comedy routine. As for the others, Deirdre does a belly dance, Leslie does a modern dance, Evette and Shawna lip synch, Billie Jean sings. "One more time," Stephanie cajoles. The sound is adjusted. The lights are adjusted, and a dozen volunteers continue setting up staging, tables and chairs, decorations, and the myriad details required to accommodate hundreds of people who will fill the club to standing room only.
"Okay, change!" Stephanie directs, and the clattering and giggles recede from stage right as Earl cues the music for the Evening Gown segment. In the dressing room, the changelings are squeezing into gorgeous gowns and adding makeup while filling the room with melodies that sway from one end to the other, back and forth, swirling round and drifting out to the main floor, where the worker bees are buzzing out the door, into the night, happy to be done with their double-shift day.
"Hey, what happened to the food?" a voice among the returning aspirants demands over the cacophony of tapping heels, rustling gowns and chitter-chatter. For the aspirants had been promised a buffet dinner, but the volunteers had already ravaged the spread, leaving scarcely a crumb. "Oh dear," Stephanie sighs, "I'll treat you to dinner after we're through." Which takes another hour, plus the time to change again, at which time we find a Circle-of-Nine click-click-clicking the midnight streets of the Big City by the Bay six blocks to an all-night Asian restaurant, where they happily repast before gliding into the nightscape. Cinderella is still awake when Billie Jean enters at 1:45 AM.
"How'd it go, Dud?" she asks, for she often calls her dad "Dud," which she claims is short for "Dude."
"It took forever and they ate all the feedbag, so we went to Asian Joe's."
"That's a greasy spoon; the only thing good is it stays open all night."
"Precisely. How was work?"
"I blew it off after three hours- I made my hundred and fifty dollars and I just didn't feel like being there any more- they had enough strippers anyway and I got a headache; I think I'm getting early PMS. That suit looks nice, kind of a Dianne Sawyer look."
"Thanks, Dodder. I gotta go take my face off."
Billie Jean undresses, erases her face, anoints it with vitamin E creme, stretches into pantyhose to protect her leg makeup, and slides into Cinderella's bed where they talk until too late, and after four hours sleep, she wakes up too early.
It is a bright sun-shiny day in the Big City by the Bay as Billie Jean wakes Cinderella with a cup of coffee, kisses her good-bye, and leaves for the noon rehearsal. On the way, she wonders whether Mrs. Billie Jean will arrive before the rehearsal or after, "Hope she doesn't get lost," she thinks.
All the aspirants, except Summer, arrive in their boy-guise, and Stephanie informs them all that Summer has dropped out. Mrs. Billie Jean, whose name is Rosemarie, arrives and takes pictures of the changelings in their boy clothes while they are rehearsing in high heels. The noon rehearsal drags into mid-afternoon, at which time they abandon it, and the aspirants depart to transform and eat, although there is little time left before the Cotillion.
In Cinderella's apartment, Billie Jean decides there is not enough time to shower or nap, and begins carefully scraping facial epidermis in the bathroom. In the kitchen, Cinderella and Rosemarie crack open cold beers and begin playing poker while trading stories and raunchy jokes. Billie Jean can't hear what they're saying, only their raucous laughter above the stereo, on which Cinderella is playing "Wimmins Music." An hour passes and a semi-nude changeling with half-a-face on enters the kitchen where the two rowdies are rocking out to Play That Funky Music White Boy.
"Wanna a beer, Dud?"
"No thanks, just water."
"We were just laughing about you being in the bathroom getting pretty while we were out here drinking beer and playing poker."
"So you're making fun of me, hey? Sexiest pigs."
"Hey bitch, just bring us the bottle of champagne and hurry up."
"Oh, look at that face, Cin," Rosemarie teases as Billie Jean opens the bottle with an exaggerated pout and disappears.
Billie Jean completes her face and touches up her leg makeup in the bathroom, emerges and begins dressing. The giggling girls wobble away from the table where they have been putting on their faces, and finish dressing.
"How much time, dear?" Rosemarie asks while buttoning her pants.
"None."
And they all depart, for the day is dark, the hour is late, and the Cotillion is upon us.
Golden light washes down the front steps of the California Club and spills into the street, reflecting off the multi-hued beings streaming toward the promise of warmth. Inside, the hall is filling with changelings and guests who are flashing their colors; with performers who will entertain; with volunteers who will staff the concessions, the lighting, the sound, and the stage.
Arriving in the farthest dressing room, Billie Jean enters the Circle, which almost seems tangible when they are all together, and joins in the weaving of it, even though it has grown larger and more complicated due to the addition of two "sponsors," one for Leslie, one for Lauren. They are having their makeup and hair done by professionals; Laurie is helping Deirdre, and Shawna's lover is helping her; Evette, Pammela and Billie Jean help each other.
Rosemarie enters the Circle with a box of long-stem red roses for Billie Jean, and a kiss. The card reads: "To the most beautiful woman I know." They hug and hold each other.
"Okay, line up!" Stephanie directs, and the changelings take one last look and file out. In the darkness of stage right they whisper in hushed tones as the music swells and rises: Let the Pageant begin!
One by one they are brought on stage by a white-gloved hand that appears between the closed curtains like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. On stage the multi-colored lights are bright, the dancers shimmer and shine, twirling and spinning in unison as the Circle rapidly expands to include everyone inside the Castle, for by now, the California Club has been completely transformed and is under the protection of a Magic Spell, Royal Guards, and a surrounding moat.
As the curtain closes on the high-kicking dancers and changelings cheerfully frozen in the background, a thunderous cheer vibrates through the Castle. "Click-click, clatter-clatter, thud-thud," is all the changeling hear as they race into the dressing room, oblivious to everything other than changing their wings. And in too little time they hear: "Line up!" And they do so while tying shoe laces, adjusting headbands, whispering and giggling among themselves. One by one they are introduced and sashay across the stage, zigging and zagging and returning to the dressing room, where they fling off their Activewear colors and scramble into Talent costumes, adding makeup and accessories under the watchful face of the clock: "Tick-Toc, never stop."
One by one they perform their routines in the dazzling spotlights, virtually blind to the celebrants in the cavernous darkness, for the changelings are wrapped in an Inner Circle within The Circle. One by one they finish, gracefully exit, and dash madly into the dressing room, "Click-click, clatter-clatter, ha-ha, chatter-chatter." The very air is charged with a swirling dance of molecules that provide inspiration, and a helping hand whenever a changeling finds a stubborn zipper, a broken nail, an impossible clasp. All problems have a solution, the changelings are ready and lining up, but Time, that relative quality, has stopped. The unfolding spectacle of the whole Pageant, from which the changelings have been insulated - the intervening acts; the introductions of celebrities; the Debutante presentations - has brought them to: The Intermission.
Billie Jean slips out of the inner Circle and wanders through the Castle among the colorful and exotic revelers. She realizes that she has missed the "show." Several people tell her it has been wonderful; she finds many "old friends" and they exchange greetings, and a few tell her that her pink house slippers do not go with her gorgeous gown. A hand closes on her arm: "There you are." She is led back to the dressing room by an emissary of Stephanie, who says, "Don't wander off."
The changelings line up and one by one they slink and strut across the stage and pose; out the runway and pose; turn and pose; exit. They remain in their gowns during a series of performances, and are brought back on stage as a group one more time to enthusiastic applause. The curtains close, the changelings group backstage for individual awards. Curtain opens, and the judges award Talent to Lauren, Best Legs (Activewear) to Billie Jean. The changelings select Evette as Miss Congeniality. Lights out.
The final five have been selected and are announced: Pammela, Leslie, Lauren, Shawna, Billie Jean. The Castle is rocking with whoops and cheers. Each takes her place, lining up on stage, and holding hands nervously, they realize the Circle has become smaller but the Bond remains. One by one they are called to select a sealed envelope containing a Final Question from the judges. Each answers and returns to The Line of Five. The judges pass judgement and forward a folded sheet of paper to the Mistress of Ceremonies who reads it and announces: "Second runner up, Leslie!" And the Line of Five is broken as Leslie steps forward, receives a huge bouquet of roses amidst waves of applause, cheers and whistles. She returns, and the MC announces: "First runner up, Lauren!" And again the Castle explodes in raucous accord. Lauren returns, the Castle quiets, the MC announces: "And the new Miss ETVC is- Billie Jean!"
A thunderous wave of applause, cheers, and shrieks rises from the heart of the Castle and cascades over a stunned changeling who manages to reach the podium and be crowned, laden with a huge bouquet along with a scepter, and is nudged to walk out the runway in an explosion of strobe lights, to be received as Miss ETVC 92/93.
Frantic photographers gather the three at center stage as a crowd of Castle celebrants surges forward and fills the space. Billie Jean sees Cinderella and Rosemarie, both covered with lipstick, arms wrapped around each other and laughing madly. She waves them over and they all embrace, laughing and babbling in the flashing lights. Aftermath
After a million photographs and a long line of revelers parading congratulations, Miss ETVC changes into a little black cocktail dress, and with Rosemarie and Cinderella, departs the nearly deserted Castle, which is being returned to its former status as the California Club, for the 26th floor suite that has been rented for an After Cotillion Party. There, the Circle reunites, much pizza arrives, several bottles of champagne are opened, and all is consumed with great gusto. Many brightly colored gift bags containing treasures appear and are presented to each of the changelings. Congratulations, much good cheer and conversation is abundant for all who flow in and out of the remaining vestiges of the Magic Spell.
At 2 AM, Cinderella retires to the bedroom with a headache. Later, Rosemarie guides Billie Jean to the picture windows overlooking the lights and silhouettes of the Big City by the Bay, and says: "Look." And they gaze at the lights and shapes that stretch to the glistening bay, "Tonight, you own this City." "I am but a tiny part," Billie Jean answers holding a giddy Rosemarie.
And even later, after waking Cinderella, as they are gathering their treasures and belongings to depart, someone asks: "So, Billie Jean, what do you do in real life?"
Pausing for a moment, Miss ETVC finds the answer:
"This is my real life."
"My name is Billie Jean
Living dreams is my main scene
I can do the dishes and laundry, too
To my own self, I try to be true.
I have a hope here deep in my heart,
May all of you find-
Light in the Dark!"

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