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If it wasn’t so completely over the top, I’d be a little more grateful, a little less embarrassed. Ever since coming out my freshman year, my parents and three older sisters had done everything they could to become allies.
On Friday movie nights, we watched LGBT romance. We never shopped at Hobby Lobby or ate at Chick Fil A. There was always a rainbow accessory on Mom’s person, from a rainbow purse to little rainbow earrings she liked to wear.
Mom had even founded the Emerson Pride Association, where queer people and their allies came together to support the queer community. This year, we were having Emerson’s very first pride celebration, including a parade that would go right past our house and an inclusive prom at Emerson Academy.
I’d just finished decorating for the pride prom with my guidance counselor, Birdie Bardot, and a few of my friends who had stayed my friends after I came out last year.
I had to admit, I was lucky. Luckier than a lot of my online friends who’d been kicked out of their homes or even emotionally and physically abused by their parents for their choices. But sometimes I wanted to be just me.
A regular kid.
I pushed open the front door with a massive rainbow wreath on it and walked inside. Dad was on the couch, watching a TV show. He gave me a grin and said, “Hey, Xi. How’s it going?”
“Good,” I said, going to give him a hug.
He kissed me on the cheek and said, “Your mom has a surprise in your room.”
At the mischievous smile on his face, I cringed. “A good surprise?”
He chuckled. “Why don’t you go find out?”
I gave him a playful glare and dropped my bag beside the couch before going up the creaking stairs. We lived in a hundred-year-old house that was both beautiful and had quirks, like the original interior knobs that didn’t actually latch and the occasional cracks in the plaster that contractors swore were no big deal.
At the top of the stairs, I turned right and walked down the hall to my bedroom. I stepped through the door, half expecting to see my room completely redecorated in a leprechaun-approved theme, but instead found a pair of rainbow chaps on my bed.
I stared at them, mouth open in horror, wondering if my motheractuallyexpected me to wear these.
“What do you think?” she asked from behind me.
I turned to see her standing in the doorway, arms folded across her chest. She was smiling hopefully, her hair in its usual bun trapped by a claw clip and wearing her uniform of an oversized T-shirt and leggings.
“What are these?” I asked, afraid to even touch the chaps. (What if she had gotten them used?)
Mom grinned so big. “They’re for the prom chaperones. Get it?Chapsfor thechaperones?”
I let out a horrified laugh. “The chaperones? Plural? That means more than one person will be wearingthese?”
“Your dad will be.” She giggled. “Both before and after the prom.”
“Ay Dios mío.”My cheeks had to be bright red by now.
“Just teasing,” she replied, coming to gather the chaps. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fun. I’m sure these will be the tamest of the outfits at prom.”
I glanced at my lime-green, sparkling gown. I’d hung it by my closet so I could look at it any time I chose. She might not be wrong. “I will be getting photographic evidence,” I warned.
“I’m counting on it,” she said. Which was fine for her, but for my banker dad, who rarely dressed in anything but slacks, button downs, and a blazer with his enamel rainbow pin... I could only imagine.
“Will Dee be home for the prom?” I asked.
Mom nodded. “Her flight is set to land about an hour before, so she’ll get here just in time. I’m still bummed Luci and Dani couldn’t make it back.”
“They’re busy with work,” I reminded her with a shrug. Mom had a hard time with my sisters moving out, going to college, getting jobs and houses of their own. I was pretty sure she’d never forgive the twins for starting their indie music store on the east coast instead of here in Emerson.
“I hope they hire an assistant soon. That’s so much work for the two of them, no days off.” Mom had that look in her eyes that told me she could go into full-mom-worry mode for hours, but instead, she said, “How were the decorations?”
“I think you did a better job here,” I replied.
She smiled with pride. “I’m sure you did great. Birdie was made for this kind of thing.”
