Manny’s mom saw the changes in Manny. Her beliefs were reinforced and shown to be true, one day, while vacuuming Manny’s bedroom carpet. She found a cardboard attaché case full of pictures cut from magazines and comic books. The pictures were of guys. Manny was at least bisexual. She just wanted Manny to be happy. She didn’t care if he was gay. She would have to talk to him about it soon. Manny also wrote in a [secret] notebook he hid in his sock drawer. How much attention did she need to pay to his statements, when he’d written:
“Some days, I wish I were a girl, and I could be with a guy like José. I wish I could buy panties and a dress and such!!”
She wanted Manny to bring up these feelings, soon. She would not be upset. Maybe she could go to the store and buy him some girl stuff, soon, and if he wanted to, he’d be able to express himself, safely at home.
****
Manny squirmed a little more. He could cut the atmosphere with a knife—his mom used that expression sometimes when someone made her uncomfortable or surprised her or her friends. Leeny kind of became more forward and scooted closer to him. Then, she put her hand on his left, then right leg.
Lena felt Manny’s leather-clad legs. His outfit was so nice. The leather trousers suited Manny—suited Manny’s “hotness”. Manny was so-o-o cool!
Manny didn’t feel cool. At one point Leeny was rubbing his legs, sometimes, she got very—no, too close for comfort—and his pants were getting too tight—Manny blushed. It was hot, Leeny’s perfume was very sweet, and his head swam, and as his body could read his mind, he began sweating again. Okay, he said to himself. She’s noticing my clothes. I’ll just pay attention to hers.
Manny mentally noted Leeny’s person from the top of her head to the cute, soft “Gelli” shoes she wore. While Leeny’s hair wasn’t shiny with afro-sheen like his, many could see a lot of similarity between Leeny and him. He chewed on her resemblance for a moment. She could be what he looked like if he were a girl. Leeny wore a short purplish-pink satin pleated skirt—the pleats were gold inside—and a blue-purple blouse that tied, sometimes showing her belly button. That was so cute! I’d love to show my belly button. She wore blue-purple, dangling earrings with her amber birthstones in them, and pink lip gloss. She showed a lot of leg—and just at that moment, as though she had read his mind, Lena moved her right thigh and leg over against his left leg.
She wanted to feel his leathered thigh against her glistening nylon-clad leg. Manny’s leather was so warm, so was Manny’s blood. Manny could feel the hormones rushing through his body, carried by his rapidly heated blood. He knew Leeny could see his heart beating through his shirt, beating the same rhythm that the blood rushing to his groin pulsed. Leeny’s blouse seemed to ripple, as she breathed to match Manny’s pulse’s rhythm.
Lena thought her chest was going to burst, and she would either develop breasts right then and there, or her heart would beat so hard that it would leap right out of her chest and onto her lap.
Manny’s eyes searched further. Leeny wore purple-blue, sparkly fingernail polish and matching sparkly hair ribbons. She was beautiful, and it dawned on him that he was still holding onto her arm. He was intoxicated in the moment. The bus had come to a stop—they were at school.
Lena looked up first, and noticed that she and Manny were the only ones on the bus, patted Manny’s leg, and startled him from his daydream. It was time to get off the bus. Manny watched Leeny as she climbed off the bus. He watched her round little girl’s bottom, her narrow waist, and the baby fat of her hips. Lena, knowing Manny’s eyes were on her, that he quickly looked away when she noticed him, sashayed through the entrance almost hop-scotch-skipping, then stopped, very coyly with her hip out. “Manny,” she announced, in a kind-of-mocking way. “I like the way your butt looks in your leather pants, sweetie.” Manny blushed.
“Leeny,” he blurted out. “You’re a cutie, too.” Lena blushed. Seconds seemed like hours. The two didn’t notice anyone else who may have been around. They just stood there frozen, until Manny excused himself and ran to the boy’s room. Hopefully, no-one noticed he had a hard-on.