Whoever Did This
…a week later
Dina was sitting at the kitchen table wrapping a present in pink wrapping paper. She was about to
get started on curling the yellow bow with the edge of the scissors when Drake walked in actually smiling.
"Why are you so happy?"
"No reason."
T-Rod had asked Drake to wait before asking Dina if she would go out with him. Drake asked why,
but T-Rod really just answered the question with another question. But still, he would respect the
wishes of his friend. It was always easy for Drake to talk to females so it was difficult for him to
relate to another guy wanting to take it slow, especially in the asking stage. There was no way Dina
was going to say 'no', she always seemed to show up in the basement when they were working.
And whenever Drake was alone down there trying to create the next rock classic she never brought
down a complete tray of fudgie-boos. But when T-Rod showed up all of a sudden there were a tray
of elementary school winning brownies and a pitcher of milk left for them. Drake also noticed the
way she'd pretend to "not" be looking at him when that's exactly what she was doing.
Didn't Dina realize how many girls from Belleview used to pretend to "not" be looking at him?
Dina wanted to have a heart-to-heart with her brother. There never seemed to be the right to time to
talk about how things "suddenly" were back to normal again.
"Is that a present for me?" Drake asked
"Hi, Dina," Enter Karen right on cue when Dina told her she was doing the Reach Out program
today and that they could talk tomorrow, "Drake."
"Karen. I'll leave the two of you alone."
Great. You choose to be polite now, Drake.
"Maybe, it's a present for me?"
"No. It's a blouse for Stephanie." It was one of those modern polyester in a teal blue color that
buttoned up like a man's shirt, but there were two long thick pieces of ribbon attached to make a
bow or tie at the top.
"Who is Stephanie?"
"A young girl I mentor at the Reach Out program. I told you about this." Dina replied frustrated.
"I'm sorry, Dina. Do you want a neck rub?"
"NO, I don't." Unless it was from Tommy, but she was too nervous to start anything up with the
man she proclaimed to her online girl friends as "Mr. Right".
"I'm sorry. Will you drop me off at the Krispy Kreme?"
And Dina didn't even have to ask if it was the location across the street from the building she
volunteered in.
"Sure."
Dina was going to have to cut the ties with Karen Gold. It was lesson to be learned that not
everyone in the community was meant to be friends. Underneath it all they were all human. She did
know she didn't want the "for keeps" friendship with Karen anymore.
Later
"…but my birthday isn't for two weeks!" exclaimed Stephanie looking better. She was wearing an
exquisite French braid hair piece. Here the youth could dress the way they wanted to dress and not
be stared at or judged. Stephanie's Mom let her get medium length hair extensions. The kid's at
school KNEW she was transgender and were ready with the verbal taunts and mild bullying.
"Open it."
"Oh my! A blouse! A pretty feminine blouse! Oh, Dina, thank you so much!" Stephanie got up form
her chair to hug her older friend.
"You're welcome, Sweetie. I hope it fits."
"Can I try it on now? So my Mom will see when she picks me up?"
"Of course."
"When I finish my surgery—My Mom surprised me with the best news ever," Dina held Stephanie's
peach colored v-neck t-shirt. "I get to start a new life in Boston with my Aunt. No one at that school
will know me and I will legally be Stephanie then."
Dina noticed she was wearing a stuffed bra to give herself some definition.
"That's great. I would have loved that. Hey, it fits. Do you want me to tie a bow at the top?"
"Sure. This blouse goes way better with my skirt then the peach shirt."
"You look lovely."
"I feel lovely."
The phone rang that was on the desk and Dina got up to answer it.
"Hello? Sure. Okay. Thank you."
"Who was that?"
"That was your Mom. She's downstairs waiting for you."
"But our time's not up!"
"I know, kiddo. But, you can AIM me tonight."
"I suppose. I'll be on at seven." She gave Dina one more hug, "Thank you again for the blouse, I
love you, Dina." It was the first time she said it.
Dina kissed the top of her head, "I love you too, Stephanie."
Dina opened the door to walk Stephanie out and was shocked to see Karen standing there holding
a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
"Look at what Dina gave me."
"That was awfully nice of her." Dina watched to make sure Stephanie got on the elevator safely.
They waved goodbye to one another as the doors closed.
"How did you get passed security?"
"Is that how you treat your friends?"
"Just kidding."
Barely.
"I have an appointment with Miss Mason to volunteer here. Oh no," Karen handed Dina the boxed
of glazed doughnuts.
"What is it?"
"My purse! I think I left it in the doughnut shop. I'll be back. Would you let Miss Mason know?"
"Of course."
Karen hastily pushed the button on the elevator, "I better take the stairs. My credit cards and
everything are in there…."
When Karen got outside there was Stephanie wearing the blouse that should have been hers. She
was about the same size as this kid.
"Hello, Stephanie. I thought your Mom was outside?"
"I thought so too. Maybe I should go back upstairs and tell Dina?"
"No. She's busy talking with Miss Mason. I left my purse in the Krispy Kreme. Why don't we call
her on my cell?" She put her arm around the thirteen year old girl as they walked across the street.
7 p.m.
Dina was lonely. Tommy and Drake went to the Brew Note to meet up with a prospective new
drummer. At least she got to look at his fine ass briefly before he left the house. Mom was working
late and Megan was out doing God knows what, with God knows who.
She was worried about Stephanie. She wasn't online and she said she'd be on at seven. Stephanie
was just like Dina if she said a time or a place, she was always there, never late, and usually early.
One good thing came out of the afternoon Karen called from the restroom at the Krispy Kreme
saying she found her purse, but realized she left the paperwork at home and asked Dina to relay yet
another message for Miss Mason.
"Hey," Drake came through the front door carrying a plain white box that was on the porch, "How's
it going Dina?"
"Where's Tommy?" She innocently inquired
"Home."
"Did you find your drummer?"
"Not really. The guy was an ass. This was on the porch for you. I'm hungry. Do you want
anything?"
"Nope."
Was it a present from Tommy?
Drake dropped the can of Mocha Cola on the floor when he heard Dina scream.
"Dina! What's wrong?" He came running back to the living room to see Dina on her hands and
knees quickly putting the lid back on the box. "Call the police, Drake!" She was about to cry at any
given moment.
It was the blouse she gave Stephanie about six hours ago. It was covered in blood. Dina slowly got
up feeling as though her head was about to explode. She quickly went to get her cell phone that was
on the top of the computer speaker. Dina wiped her eyes to see if Stephanie or her Mom answered
the phone. No one did. No dear God.
"Dina….what's wrong?" The police said they'd be on their way.
"I think Stephanie the girl I mentor is dead."
"What! I'm so sorry….What's in the box?" He wanted to hug her, but she backed away.
"The blouse I gave her this morning covered in blood. Please tell me this is NOT happening,
Drake."
She walked over to the front door and made sure the porch light was turned on. She needed to sit
outside and get some air. That's when an arm went around her two minutes later, "Dina, are you
okay?"
"Oh, Karen," she put her head on her shoulder, "I'm waiting for the police."
"Why?"
"By the time you went to get your purse was Stephanie still outside?"
"No. I saw their car drive off by the time I went in the Krispy Kreme."
"There was a box left on the porch for me…I can't even say it, I feel like I'm going to puke."
"What was in the box?"
"The blouse I gave Stephanie this morning all covered in blood."
Dina and Karen noticed the police car stop in front of the house.
"How terrible! But we don't know for sure that she's dead. Hello, Officer…."
Drake felt his whole body shake knowing that the police were going to have to come into the house
to pick up the evidence. He hated his sister having to go through all this.
3 a.m.
It didn't require much effort to get Karen to leave. As soon as Dina was done giving her statement
and the evidence to the police; Karen hugged her and told her to "hang in" and walked home
despite Dina's instance that she take a cab.
She couldn't sleep thinking about that sweet soul being murdered. And what was the reason? They
didn't have to find the body for Dina to know Stephanie was indeed gone. Just like Sophia whom
she didn't know and the cases like Brandon Teena's that made national headlines when turned into
Oscar winning movies.
Audrey, Drake, and Megan were all at Dina's side. Megan fell asleep in the non-reclining chair.
Dina had her head on Audrey's shoulder and Drake held his sister's cold and shaky hand. Dina's
voice was barely a whisper, but both mother and brother heard every word.
"I hope whoever did this burns in Hell."