The van and camper pulled into the Madison's driveway late Sunday afternoon. At her mother's insistence, Jenny stayed to help put away the camping equipment, then stuck around to play with Michelle for most of the rest of the afternoon. She finally headed back to her house a bit before suppertime.
She came home to find the Becky setting the table, and got a grudging where-did-you-get-off-to look. Her mom was just pulling a casserole out of the oven, and they sat down to eat.
"Well, dear," Karen asked, "did you have a good time with the Madisons?"
Jenny nodded emphatically. "Yep! Michelle and I did a bunch of swimming, and we had a bonfire and made s'mores and I got to sleep in a camper! We even caught fish for supper!"
Mark chuckled. "Good, I'm glad you got to end your summer in a fun way. The weather wasn't too cold?"
"Kinda," she admitted, "but they had a heater in the camper, so it was just my feet that were chilly."
"So," Becky said, "it was you and...Michelle, right? and her parents. Anyone else?"
Jenny nodded. "Michelle has a couple sisters, and they were there. One of them..." She caught herself; Michelle had asked her not to tell about that. "One of them brought her friend, too."
"Sounds like quite a crowd," Karen smiled. "I'm glad it was such a good time for you."
"Thanks for letting me go!" Jenny giggled.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I need to throw up, but I can't."
Mrs. Gerard nodded. "I don't blame you. This school thing is going to be tricky for me to handle, but I've still got the easy part a million times over."
Jason groaned. "Mom, what if...what if I stop being me?"
"That won't happen," she replied. "Remember, the Connelys themselves said that nothing really changed about them, didn't they?"
"But what if they didn't know it? Becky was...she was wearing makeup, Mom! And I think she likes boys, too! She's always hanging out with Andrew, and a while back they were..."
Rachel shushed him. "Jason, people change. That's just a fact of life. If you're right about her behavior, it's probably just that Becky is trying to find out what sort of person she wants to be, now that she knows that she's a girl. That doesn't mean that she's changed in who she is due to this magical note thing."
Jason sighed. Maybe his mom was right, but...
"I understand where you're coming from," she said. "I'd be worried, too, if I was in your shoes. But if it makes you feel better, Becky still pretty much acts like a boy, makeup notwithstanding. I don't think you have anything to be concerned about in that department."
Jason managed a weak smile. "Th-thanks."
Rachel nodded. "Remember, sweetie: no matter what comes of this, you'll always be my child, and I'll always love you."
