Disclaimer: I own nothing except this current gender bender for Frances and any alterations to the original storyline plot this creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
A Woman's Game Chapter 3
1912:
Eleven years after that faithful day in the city of Boston Francis Ouimet is just as passionate about golf as ever. Her mother is a testament to that fact.
One night as Mrs. Ouimet was lying in bed with her husband at a very late hour she heard a very familiar noise coming from one of her children's bedrooms. Quietly Mary Ouimet slipped out of bed so as not to disturb her husband and went down the hall. As usual, it was her daughter Francis practicing her golf again at this late hour.
Mary Ouimet groaned "Francis. It's after midnight."
"Just one more, Mother," implored Francis.
Mary Ouimet nodded smiling at her firstborn.
Smiling back Francis gently tapped her club on the ball. The golf ball rolled into the tin cup she had acting as a hole on the floor.
In the morning Francis went to work at her job as a caddie at the Country Club while her siblings went to school. Inside the kitchen, Mary Ouimet was making another addition to the scrapbook she'd been keeping over the years of her daughter's exploits in golf and everything she came to like about it as she grew up.
The most recent one is a newspaper article about Francis coming out victorious at her high school. She had it carefully glued onto a clean page.
Ouimet Wins Public High School Championship
Francis had almost not been permitted to compete in the competition because of her gender and it being all boys, but in the end, she managed to convince the officials to give her a shot. She'd stunned them all with her skill.
Mary Ouimet couldn't have been more proud. She just wished her husband would share her sentiments. As Francis grew up into a strong, capable, and confident young woman Arthur Ouimet showed more ever-increasing disapproval and disdain towards her interest in the sport. He wanted her to focus on work and eventually going to college not wasting her time on a sport ruled by the wealthy where they would never accept her. This made the relationship between father and daughter quite strained. Don't get her wrong Francis loved her father very much and was devoted to him, but he made it extremely difficult to maintain. Francis merely wanted to make him proud.
On the golf course in the Country Club, a well-respected member had requested Francis as his caddie for the day. Francis was always more than happy to act as his caddie. He always had a kind word to say to Francis asking her how things were going with her family along with her practicing golf. He was one of the few people here who saw no problem with treating her as an equal both inside and outside of the sport.
Lugging Mr. Hastings's clubs over her shoulder Francis spotted him waiting for her at the first round of the course.
"Mr. Hastings," greeted Francis.
"Ah, Miss Francis," said Mr. Hastings, smiling.
"Sir," said Francis, pulling out a club for him as she was walking.
The two shook hands with Mr. Hastings accepting the club.
"We now lack but one essential to complete the swift appointment of our round, your clubs," said Mr. Hastings.
"My clubs, sir," said Francis, worriedly. "Caddies aren't allowed on the course. If Mr. Campbell sees me out there-."
Mr. Alec Campbell, the Caddiemaster.
"You let me worry about Campbell. Go. Get those clubs," instructed Mr. Hastings. "You go, girl. Get those clubs."
Francis went running to get them from where she had them in the cabbies cabin as fast as her legs could carry her placing Mr. Hastings's clubs on the wall. With how fast she was moving it wouldn't take long. She didn't know what was going on, but she was going to enjoy it.
"Hup, hup, hup, hup," said Mr. Hastings.
From start to finish Francis shoots a fine round. The whole time Mr. Hastings encourages lending criticism whenever he thinks she needs it. On the number fifteen hole out of eighteen Francis so far has seven swings if she got the ball in the hole it would be good for that part of the course. It would be a tiny bit difficult considering the ball had fallen into a sand dune right beside the actual hole. No problem for Francis she could get it out easy as pie.
Francis got into a stance adjusting her grip on the club prepared to swing. She raised her head to recheck her position and on the top of a hill overlooking the course she saw Mr. Campbell staring at her intently with an impassive blank face.
Francis felt her stomach drop knowing full well she was banned from doing the course because of her caddie status. Nerves getting the best of her Francis swung, but instead of the club knocking the ball out it hit the sand.
Francis deflated a bit but worked herself up to get the ball out. The next one got the ball out and she was able to get it back onto the grass in close proximity to the hole. Later on, Francis ended up with a total score of 81.
It was dark outside now. Francis had a little more work to do cleaning some equipment. So she went to the caddies cabin and put her clubs away.
"What did you shoot?"
Francis turned to find the Caddie master, Mr. Campbell, watching her. He must've been waiting for her to come back. After his unannounced appearance at hole 15, he'd vanished.
Francis swallowed figuring he was about to fire her.
"Uh, an 81, sir," said Francis.
"What did you take on 15," asked Mr. Campbell.
"A nine, sir," said Francis.
"So you shot an 81 the first time around on the toughest golf course in New England. With a nine," said Mr. Campbell.
"Well, I…I think…," stuttered Francis. "Well, I saw you standing there, knowing that caddies aren't supposed to play…"
"Go on," coaxed Mr. Campbell.
"I…I think I got a little nervous, sir," said Francis, quietly.
"We needed to see how you handled yourself," said Mr. Hastings, sticking his head in through the doorway.
"Handled myself," said Francis, frowning, not following the direction they were taking the conversation.
"National Amateur Championship's here next month," said Mr. Campbell.
Eyes wide, gawking, looking back and forth between both men, Francis said "Are you saying that I can…What do I have to do? I'll do anything."
"You have to play in the qualifier," said Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Hastings said "That's the easy part. You have to be approved by the Executive Committee."
The Executive Committee was very meticulous about the sort of people they allowed to play in their competitions. Hearing them mentioned raised a huge red flag for Francis.
Confidence sinking, Francis said "They're not gonna let me play. I'm a woman. They won't even consider me. I can hear plain as day what they're going to tell us. That a woman has no place in a sport ruled by men. The rules-."
"The rules speak of a player," said Mr. Hastings. "They don't specify from one gender to another."
Looking at these two seasoned golf veterans with brand new eyes, Francis whispered "You think I have a chance."
Shrugging, nonchalantly, Mr. Hastings quipped "Would we be here talking to you about this if we didn't?"
No, no they wouldn't. Time to take a chance.
Authors Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.