Stuck in the Middle With You: A Memoir of Parenting in Three Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan

Author:Jennifer Finney Boylan [Boylan, Jennifer Finney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Lgbt, Family & Relationships, Parenting, General, Personal Memoirs, Gay & Lesbian
ISBN: 9780307952844
Google: iloBvNTsZB8C
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2013-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

“I NEVER DOUBTED YOU’D RISE TO THE TOP.

YOU HAD SUCH A STRANGELY SHAPED HEAD.”

The Boylans, with Ranger and Indigo, on Long Pond, in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, summer 2010.

© Heather Perry

I opened my eyes in a dark room. Moonlight reflected off the snow. I went to the bathroom, brushed my hair, swallowed a tiny light green pill. Estrogen dissolved upon my tongue.

I walked down the stairs. The game was afoot. In the basement I split wood for the stove, carried it back up to the kitchen, and got the fire going. I woke up the boys and plugged in the waffle iron, put the bacon in an iron skillet. It was not quite six A.M.

I went into the laundry room. Zach’s snow boots were still wet, and I turned on the dryer. The boots thunked and rang inside the drum.

Sean had gotten himself as far as the music room. The sun was just starting to break through the trees, and the early morning light shone off the piano’s raised-up lid.

Zach’s feet clumped up the stairs. A moment later came the rushing of water through the pipes as he turned on the shower.

I put a couple more logs on the woodstove. It was beginning to send out some heat. I removed a waffle from the iron, slung it on a plate. I put this on the table, along with the bacon and a pitcher of pure Maine maple syrup.

“Okay, Seannie,” I said. “Let’s get the day started.”

Sean came into the kitchen and looked at his breakfast and smiled. “It’s Waffle Tuesday,” he said.

At six thirty, Deedie burst into the house with the dogs. “Oh my God is it cold!” she said, her cheeks red, tiny icicles clinging to the bottom of her blue wool hat. The dogs sat down in front of the roaring woodstove and raised their noses in anticipation. Deedie dug into the giant box of dog biscuits in the cupboard and then gave one to each of the creatures. Then she handed the newspaper—the Morning Sentinel—to Sean. “Here’s the paper,” she said. Sean opened the paper to the comics section, where once again Mark Trail was struggling with poachers in Lost Forest.

The dogs crunched their Milk-Bones on the floor. I got up and poured more waffle batter into the iron for Deedie. Zach came bounding into the room, fresh from the shower. “Hi, Mommy. Hi, Maddy. Hi, Sean.” Deedie and I gave him a hug. Sean raised an eyebrow. “Hey, Baby Sean! It’s Waffle Tuesday!”

“Mark Trail is chasing poachers,” said Sean.

“Okay, Boylans,” I said. “What do we got?”

“They have band this afternoon, and Sean’s playing soccer. It’s book group night for me,” said Deedie.

“I’ve got a faculty meeting at four,” I said, “and then I’m supposed to be playing rock ’n’ roll.”

“You have to take Sean to soccer. I told you about book group yesterday.”

“Oh,” said Zach. “I forgot to mention we’re going on a field trip today to the Lobster Museum. I need you to sign some forms. Also, can I have ten dollars? Plus I said we’d bring snacks.

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