A Queer Turn of Events   by Lisa Lees	Episode map Characters Extras Blog
1:4 – "Get It Together" Part 1: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Part 2: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

As soon as Crystal picked Sandy up from the library, the five of them squeezed in around the kitchen table to eat. When they finished, Sandy said she really needed to take a nap. They decided to let her get some sleep in the bedroom while the rest of them talked. Crystal came back into the kitchen after she tucked Sandy into bed and closed the bedroom door. As she sat back down at the table, she noticed that Tam and Jami were looking at Carys, as if waiting for her to speak. "Is something wrong?" asked Crystal. "Not exactly. Well, yes," said Carys, letting out a long sigh. "We didn't tell you last night because you were so upset..." "You three are okay aren't you?!"

Carys reached out to squeeze Crystal's hand. "We're fine. But Emiko called late yesterday afternoon. Rachel's parents have kicked her out. They're going to disown her, not pay for her last year in college, the whole nine yards. Emiko and James picked her up as she was walking away from her house with what she could carry. She's in Emiko's dorm room right now. They're coming here once they're up and about." "Oh my God!" Crystal crossed her arms on the table and lay her head down on them. "Why do people hate us so much? What is so bad about loving the person you love?" "It sucks," agreed Carys. "Emiko says that Rachel is pretty torn up." They were silent a moment, then Crystal sat up and shook her head as if to clear it. "So what are you going to do with so many homeless queer people, Carys?"

Carys laughed. "That's exactly what Emiko asked me, and I sure as hell don't know."

At that point Carys's cell buzzed. It was Emiko, saying that Rachel was awake and they would like to come to the apartment.

"Do you need a ride?" asked Carys, looking at Crystal, who nodded. "Crystal is here with the van. She can pick you up if you tell her where you are." Carys handed the cell to Crystal.

"Dykes on wheels. What can we do for you today?" Once she had the directions she handed the cell back to Carys and said, "I'll be back soon with another load of refugees."

"I'll walk downstairs with you," said Carys. "I want to talk with Mary, see what ideas she has about us finding a larger place."

Jami and Tam cleaned up the kitchen, then Jami sat at the table with her laptop while Tam rearranged pillows, piles of books and such so they all could sit and talk in the center section.

When Crystal returned with Emiko and Rachel, they all sat in the center section and listened to Rachel tell what had happened. Near the end of her story, Sandy came out from the bedroom.

"Okay, I think I can keep my eyes open for a while." She saw Emiko and Rachel, noticed tears on Rachel's face, and asked, "What's going on?" Tam, sitting in hir favorite place by the stair railings, gave Sandy a quick recap while Carys and Jami went into the bedroom to print off some notes the three of them had made about looking for a larger place to live. Coming back into the center section, Carys said, "Okay, folks. I know everyone's a little tired and upset, but clearly we need to do something soon. There are a few things we need to discuss.

"Jami and Tam and I have been talking about finding a larger place to live. What's happened with Sandy and Rachel just makes the need more urgent. Rachel needs a place to stay, immediately. How about you, Sandy? And what do Emiko and Crystal plan on doing?"

"I guess I do, too," said Sandy. "Even if I could reactivate my admission to State and get my scholarship stuff straightened out this late, they require first year students to live on campus if they're not living at home. Neither of those options works for me right now, so I'm going to take some time to figure this out."

Crystal nodded. "I would really, really like to get out of my house and be with Sandy. I have a part time job, and I'm quite willing to look for full time, or work two part times, to help out with expenses." Keeping one arm around Rachel, Emiko said, "I am not sure. I already have signed up to live on campus next semester. I must check my options." When Rachel's head drooped, Emiko added, "I can be with you at least on weekends, even if I keep my room on campus. But I must study and do well. My scholarship depends on it." "Okay," said Carys, while Jami made notes, "so we need at least three bedrooms, and it would be nice if we had space for Wizzy Wig to practice. We're definitely looking for a house, I think."

"None of this furniture is ours, right?" asked Tam.

Jami nodded. "Right. That could make things rough in the beginning, but we'll manage."

"So how do we do this?" asked Rachel, sniffling. "I don't have anything."

"You and Sandy are camping out here. Emiko and Crystal stay where they are for now. Jami's got her job at the photo store. I have to keep up with my bookkeeping clients. Tam is between semesters. So we'll get together every evening, at least, to figure out what needs to be done and who's doing it. Mary gave me names of some people to call. I'm also going to contact Derick, who directed The Captive last year. He seemed to know a lot about houses."

"I'll talk with my parents this afternoon," said Jami.

"Are we going to practice?" said Crystal.

"Are you up to that, Rachel? Sandy?" asked Carys.

"Sure," said Rachel, doing her best to smile. "Anything to take my mind off what's happened to me."

"Absolutely," said Sandy.

"Okay. Logistics. Crystal, you need to get gear from your house, right?" Crystal nodded. "So you and Sandy do that, and bring her stuff from the van up here. The rest of us can head for a bus stop and Jami's house. We'll probably all get there about the same time."

* * *

While the others were setting up, Jami went to find her father. He was in the study, which actually was used as a study in the Barton house, preparing for his fall classes.

"Dad?" "Jami! I thought I heard you all come in. How's the troupe going?" "Good, real good. Uh, can I talk with you about something?" "Absolutely." He moved a stack of books. "Here, sit." Jami quickly explained what was going on and the need to find a larger place for them to live. Her father nodded. "It sounds like your friends are in something of a bind." He looked thoughtful. "I have that money you and Mom set aside for me. We could even buy something..."

Her father raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how long that would take? You should have months to look around, make a decision, work out the legal details. That doesn't sound like what you need right now."

"I guess that's true." Jami sighed. "This close to fall term we're probably going to end up paying an enormous amount to rent a house, though. We only have one broken down van between us. It has to be close in or on a bus line."

Snapping his fingers, her father said, "I have an idea. It may be just what you all need. How about house-sitting?"

"Huh?"

"Faculty sometimes take a sabbatical away for a year, and they want someone to live in their house while they're gone. You can't just leave a house sit unattended through the winter in Michigan."

"And such a person let a bunch of queer weirdos live in their house?" Jami was skeptical.

"Jami, that you all are 'queer' is irrelevant, and I don't think you and your friends are any more 'weird' than a lot of people your age. Besides, you're not just anybody. You're my daughter and I'm a full professor. My recommendation carries a lot of weight with other faculty."

"I suppose that's true," agreed Jami, "but still, isn't it awfully late? And how would we find out about that?"

"Let me look around a little bit online." He saw Jami's expression and smiled "You're not the only one who can do that, you know. I can make a couple of phone calls, too. I seem to remember..." He turned to his laptop and started typing.

"Okay. I need to get back to the practice. Thanks, Dad!"

To be continued...