"You don't really have to do this," he says as she pulls him through the cabin door.
"I hate what they did to you. Those stupid Hermes boys are always doing something like that," Lacy says.
"I am a Hermes boy too you know," he reminds her.
"Yeah, I know but you're my brother too and that was mean. Go in the bathroom and take that wet gown off, and I'll find you something to wear," she continues showing him the door. Hermaphroditos can tell his little sister isn't going to let this go, so he heads inside to change.
She grabs an orange camp shirt, the biggest one she can find, then runs to the bathroom door, do you wear boy pants or girl pants," she calls inside.
"Boy's would fit better," he answers through the door.
"Mitchell won't mind," she says and runs to her oldest brother's chest to get a pair of khaki cargo shorts and boxers. When she gets back to the bathroom door, she knocks and says, "Try these."
"Thank you," her brother says opening the door just enough for her to hand the clothes in to him.
"What are you doing?" Drew asks finally picking her head up off her pillow.
"Connor and Tate pranked our brother and got his clothes all wet. I'm giving him some dry clothes to put on," Lacy explains.
"Couldn't he just change on his own?" Drew asks thinking Lacy is referring to one of their brothers from the cabin.
"He's not a camper," Lacy tells her as their brother opens the bathroom door and steps out with them.
"Thank you very much Lacy," he says folding his gown into a square.
"You know in that outfit, you look a little more like Lord Hermes," Lacy says.
"My appearance changes a little like Mother's," he says.
"Drew, this is our brother Hermaphroditos. Boy that's a long name. Do they call you anything for short?" Lacy asks.
"Aphroditos is fine," he says looking at Drew for her reaction. When Drew doesn't react either way, he extends his hand to her.
"It's nice to meet you Drew," he says.
"You too," she says softly.
"He's a god," Lacy tells their sister with a grin.
"Yes, I know," Drew says, "Mom and Hermes right?"
"Yes," he confirms.
"So your own brothers did that to you?" Drew asks pointing at the gown.
"Well, as a son of Hermes, you get used to it," Aphroditos says.
"Let me get you something to put your gown in," Lacy says and runs to find something.
"How far along are you?" Aphroditos asks his sister low enough that Lacy won't hear.
"I'm not sure, I just found out. A couple of weeks I guess," she answers looking toward Lacy.
"I won't say anything," her brother says, "May I?" he continues motioning to take a seat on her bed. Drew nods and he sits next to her. "I can stop the nausea if you wish," he whispers.
"It won't hurt the baby?" she whispers back.
"Not at all, I'm a fertility specialists you know," he says with a smile. Drew nods for him to do his thing. Her brother leans in and gently kisses her forehead. "You should start to feel better…"
"Wow," she says sitting up a little straighter. "Thank you, why couldn't Mom have done that?"
"She could have," her brother says, "But if I know Mother, and of course I do, it was probably to teach you a lesson."
"Trust me, I got the point," Drew says now realizing she must look terrible. She puts her hair behind her ears.
"Don't worry, you're still a beautiful daughter of Aphrodite," he tells her making her feel better.
"Here you go," Lacy says giving her brother a bag to put his dress in. "Drew, are you feeling better? You look a little better."
"Yes, actually I am feeling better thanks to our brother here," Drew says sliding her legs over the edge of the bed.
"I guess it's a good thing he's Lord Hermes kid too," Lacy says casually, "So he has a medicine thing going on."
"Yes, I guess it's a good thing," Drew says giving her brother a knowing smile.
"You should meet Piper," Lacy continues. "She's our cabin counselor. She's also married to a son of Jupiter, Jason."
"Jupiter?" her brother says, "Oh yes, I remember they're two of The Seven. Is she the pretty Indian girl I saw you with earlier?"
"Yes, but don't let her hear you say Indian," Lacy says with a laugh.
"That is inappropriate isn't it? Native American girl then," he corrects.
"She's Cherokee," Drew says now standing.
"I noticed the feathers in her hair," Aphroditos says. "It's nice to see that Mom is still mixing it up," he then chuckles.
"Mom could care less what the guy's race or ethnic group as long as he's hot," Drew agrees with a smile.
"I don't know of a Greek god that does care about those things," her brother agrees.
Several of Aphrodite's other children now return to the cabin to clean up before lunch, including Mitchell. A couple of them say "hi" greeting their guest.
Lacy introduces all of them then Mitchell says, "Are those my shorts?"
Aphroditos looks to Lacy to answer since he doesn't know which brother she got them from. "The Hermes boys got his gown all wet. I hope you don't mind?"
"I promise I will return them," his brother adds.
"That's cool," Mitchell say. "Did Mom send you here?"
"No, I was here on a matter involving a couple of campers not from Hermes or our mother," his brother explains. "Is there a reason why you thought she might have?"
"No, no reason," Mitchell says leaving it at that. He goes into the bathroom to get cleaned up leaving his siblings to talk with their godly brother. When he returns to the main room of the cabin, all of his brothers and sisters are gone, except Hermaphroditos.
"I sent the others along to lunch. I hope you don't mind," the god says.
"So Mom did send you," Mitchell says.
"No, I spoke the truth before, however, I sense you are struggling with something I might be able to help you with," Aphroditos tells him. Mitchell just looks at his brother. "If you wish not to speak of it, I will not make you," his brother continues.
"It's not that. I just don't know what to say," Mitchell tells him honestly.
"You are young, Mitchell, you do not have to make any choices at this point in your live. You don't have to limit your options or feel labeled in some way. You are free to explore any and all emotions that you experience without worry," his brother tells him.
"That's easy for you to say. You've always been like this," Mitchell replies.
"You do not know my story?" the god asks. "I was a regular boy, well as regular as a god boy can be, until I was about your age. I would say you are about 15?"
"Fourteen," Mitchell tells him.
"I had never given any thought to things of this nature. Oh I was quite attractive as a boy. Some claimed the most attractive boy ever seen, of course that is not for me to say. One day I ventured upon a spring. It was a beautiful day, and I so wanted to take a dip in the water. The spring belonged to a nymph named Salmacis and she tried very hard to seduce me. Being young and still pure, I was not ready for such a relationship. I dare say I angered her by rejecting her advances. She finally retreated, or so I thought. Foolishly I decided to take a dip in the pool of water not realizing that as a water nymph, she was the water. I undressed and stepped into the water…"
"Bad idea," Mitchell says knowing enough to realize where the story must be going.
"Very bad idea," his brother continues. "Salmacis came from nowhere. She was all over me, touching me, screaming out to the gods to make us one forever. I don't know who I pissed off, but they listened to her. My body changed into what you see before you. I became both male and female, Hermaphroditos and Salmacis in one body. I was mortified at what I was."
"I guess," Mitchell says thinking he would be too.
"I cried out to my parents to fix this, but they could not. I would have to live for eternity in this new form. I was terrified at the thought of being the only creature like this in all of the Heavens and Earth. I did a very selfish thing I must admit. I begged Hermes and Aphrodite that if they could not change me back, that they would transform anyone else who ever ventured into this same pool of water into what I had become. I thought that if I was not alone, I would not be considered a freak of nature," the god says lowering his head in shame.
"You were just a kid," his brother says putting his hand on brother's shoulder, "You can't blame yourself for that. It was Mom and Hermes that should have known better."
"Perhaps, but they both loved me, so they granted me my wish. I had to adjust to what I became. I had no choice in the matter. I admit I have a choice in how I dress and carry myself. Most of the time, I appear to others as our mother does. This is simply because I have a more outward appearance of a woman. I can more easily be taken as a female. Contrary to popular belief, however, I do not go around lifting my dress for all to see. I do not flaunt my genders to everyone I meet. I have, however, accepted my role as god of bisexuality. I try to help those who are torn between how they were born and how they feel. There is no right or wrong here, Mitchell. I believe this happened to me because I have a purpose to serve. I support those who, by their nature or choices, society tends to leave out. My advice to you is not to worry about what you are feeling. Allow yourself to consider all possibilities. When you are certain of what will make you happy, I will be here to support you either way."
"I'm sorry for what happened to you," Mitchell tells his brother.
"Like I said, I believe it was for a purpose," Aphroditos says softly.
"I appreciate you taking the time to tell me your story, and for being here for me. I really don't know what I want. I guess you and Mom are both right. I'm still young. I don't really have to worry about anything because I'm too young to act on it either way," Mitchell tells him.
"This friend of yours, he is a camper?" his brother asks.
"Yeah, son of Apollo," Mitchell confirms.
"Spend time together. Do not be afraid to be best friends. When you are both old enough, you will know what is right. In the meantime, if you ever want to talk, send me an IM and I'll be here for you."
"Thanks," Mitchell says and gives his brother a hug.
"Now lunch is calling, and I should leave camp before anything happens to your clothes," the god says with a smile.
