Hallie's shopping
Saturday, August 17th, 1991
Hallie looked over at her eldest brother, nineteen year old Bill. They were currently standing outside of Madame Malkins, on a trip to get Hallie's school supplies. Hallie was supposed to go to a second hand store for all her stuff, but Bill cut in and was paying himself.
All the older kids got new stuff because the family had the money at the time, and Ginny would because she was a girl. So, Bill thought it unfair that Hallie was going to be treated differently. She didn't deserve it.
"Ron, why aren't you going in?" Bill questioned the eleven year old.
"I wanna go home." Hallie murmured.
"What? But, you were so excited to get your school stuff and new clothes earlier." Clothes were thrown into the deal because Hallie had grown out of all of her own, not to mention exclusively had hand-me-downs while the others had at least some of their own clothes.
"I don't want a boys uniform." Hallie admitted.
"Then don't get one."
"What?"
"If you want one or both of the girls uniforms instead of, or in addition to, the boys uniform, go ahead. It's your uniform, your choice. I really don't care what you buy today as long as you come out with stuff to wear and other school essentials."
"I can have....I can have skirts and dresses?"
"As many as you want."
"Can I be Hallie? A girl?"
"So, it wasn't all a prank? I figured....Of course you can be Hallie, kiddo." Bill answered, thinking back to all the things his parents, mostly mom, claimed to be a prank throughout Hallie's childhood. He knew there was a story behind it all, but no one would tell him. This sort of explained things; Hallie probably came to the others years prior, to a not so good reaction.
Hallie wanted to cry. Someone believed her! Someone saw her!
Bill grunted in surprise feeling his little sister hug him tight.
"I love you, I love you, I love you." Hallie repeated into Bill's abdomen.
"I love you too." Bill replied once Hallie pulled away and stopped repeating herself.
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Hallie twirled in front of the full-body mirror Bill purchased for her room after she was unable to tear her eyes away from it for minutes. She was wearing a red skirt and white spaghetti-strap tank-top. She wouldn't be able to wear her new clothes around home, even in the safety of her room, but thought it safe just this once.
Everyone was asleep, and Bill was still here until tomorrow to protect her. So, she was as safe as it was possible to be when someone was her, in this house.
Hallie wished the others were like Bill, inside and outside of the family....But, they weren't....And probably never would be....
Hallie also wished she could move out and live with Bill, it would be perfection. She would have privacy, love, acceptance. To always be called Hallie and a girl. She could wear pretty, feminine, clothes. She could be herself.
She was never going to get to be herself here.