My Governess smiles at me from across the table. "Remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?"
"A Doctor!" I'm enthusiastic now.
"Your Papa agrees women can have careers because he met your mother during hers." she paused, "Madeleine Alexandrine Brès was the first woman to be a doctor in France, she could take care of women better because she is a woman because women are different from men."
"If a girl can be a boy at the Opera, then men and women aren't different!" I retort, my anger coming out like lava erupting like a volcano! My voice rose louder than I meant it to.
"Would you rather be a wife? My Governess threatens.
Not, because "Wife" is not what you would call a boy! I keep this thought to myself, however.
My Governess teaches me Biology, Chemistry, and Math. Biology is gross! Blood, broken bones, where babies come from…. Chemistry is fun, particularly the Bunson burner big flames make me feel excited! Math equations go in patterns and when you memorize the pattern, you can get it right every time!
As I try to fall asleep that night, my rag doll, Victoria, says "How are you doing Georges?"
I answered "I don't want to be a doctor! I want to be a boy!"
"Well, many boys are doctors, but your being a girl would be important. Have you thought about maybe a doctor could turn girls into boys?"
"You mean perform magic?" I ask
"Science and magic aren't that different stick with it and you'll see.."
I must be dreaming! So I close my eyes…
(Papa's POV)
My Sister bought her tattered copy of Little Women over as a gift for Geneive.
"When you told me about her wanting to be a boy I thought of Jo… Hopefully, this wil help"
"Doesn't the father die in that book? I don't need her asking more questions!"
"It's the sister Beth who dies," she answered
"Would you like to see Genevieve?" I asked.
"I'm sorry I don't have time to visit," she just left!
I knew the fact that Philippe and Sorelli were not married was a disgrace… If either of my sisters took the time to get to know Geneive…
(Child's POV)
Papa had a new story for me. It was the biggest book I had ever seen! He read '
Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo lying on the rug...
We had to stop when Meg and Jo got home from the New Year's party.
"Do you know why Jo felt uncomfortable at the party?" Papa asked.
"Well corsets hurt and her hair pens hurt…but Laurie was nice and no one had to see her dress" I answered.
"Laurie did," Papa pointed out.
"But Laurie talked to her like she was a boy," I clarified. "Papa… Girls being boys in plays is normal!"
"Yes, I suppose so. Let's see how the rest of the story goes."
When we finish, Jo is Married! This is what the word "Woman" means. "If you love someone it's not a burden," says Mama.
"I love Priscilla!" I declare.
"Women don't marry each other." Papa tries to explain.
"Why?" I of course ask.
"Because only a man and a woman can have babies, so it's not practical."
"Yuck!" I declare.
Now I know I don't need to be a boy, but I just want to be a boy!
The next night Mama tells me of Bradamate the woman who was a knight.
"I love that she rescued Ruggreio, just like a boy would," I said enthusiastically!
"She's like me I had to rescue Daroga and your Papa from Erik's torture chamber because he wanted to marry me."
"I thought Erik was your friend," I said dismayed.
"I knew him a long time before that happened, he pretended to be the Angel of Music, my father had said he would send me, but he didn't understand that he was a second father to me. The Angel was meant to look after me when my father could not. Once he understood I loved him, because I kissed him he let me marry Papa.!
"I love both Erik and Papa too," I say "Mama if a girl can be a knight, Why can't a girl be a boy?"
"If magic existed there wouldn't be a reason," Mama answered. "We just need something that doesn't require magic"
Like Science! I moll over how this happened in my mind, in my bed that night. My limited knowledge of medicine makes it seem impossible so I start pacing back and forth in my room. The more Y pace the quicker I breathe and the smaller my room seems, so I just need to get out! I fling open my bedroom door, take Papa's wallet, and run downstairs out the front door onto the street.