Mikey, despite Diane's admonition to not freak out, was doing just that. A million thoughts and questions were running through his head all at once: Was he stuck being a girl for the rest of his life? The necklace must be around here somewhere. Was he going to start finding boys attractive? Maybe the necklace could still change him back into a boy. What would having a period be like? Zoe was always bitchy when she had her's. Where is the necklace? I'm never going to be able to pee standing up again. And on, and on.
From Diane's perspective it looked like Mikey was just staring blankly off into space. She briefly wondered if she had somehow broken him when he started crying. She wasn't sure what to do, so she did the first thing that came to mind: She wrapped her arms around Mikey and pulled him into a hug. No matter what was wrong, it always made her feel better when her mother gave her a hug.
"I don't want to be a girl forever." Mikey said as tears rolled down his face.
"Shh... It's okay." Diane soothed pulling him in tighter.
"It's not okay. I'm a girl and I'm probably stuck this way." Mikey blubbered while crying harder.
"I know. But being a girl isn't that bad." Diane said.
"Yes it is." Mikey said. "I hate being a girl."
Diane knew that probably wasn't true or he wouldn't have agreed to come on this camping trip as a girl. After all he'd been allowed to join the Girl Scouts even though he was a boy. She also knew that pointing that out right now probably wasn't the best idea, so she didn't say anything and just stroked his hair.
After a few minutes Mikey's tears lessened and then, eventually, stopped. "Thanks." he said pulling out of Diane's embrace.
"No problem." She replied.
"Do you think the necklace can turn me back into a boy?" Mikey asked.
"I don't know. Krista said that the person she got it from never told her and that she was too afraid to find out." Diane reminded him.
"Can we give it a try?"
"Sure. It doesn't hurt to try and then at least you will know one way or the other." Diane said. "Let's go find the necklace."
The two of them then headed to their tent which seemed the most likely place that it would have come off without either of them noticing.
