A Queer Turn of Events

  by Lisa Lees

"It's complicated," said Dr. Thiel, seated in one of the few remaining pieces of furniture in the living room of the house. "I have a new job in California. I moved out there this summer. One of my children says she wants this house, but they have to work things out with their jobs, and they don't want to relocate their child for his last year of elementary school. So I've agreed not to sell the house until they make up their minds for certain." She looked around. "As you can see, the house is pretty empty now. I hope that won't be a problem?"

"Oh, no. We'll manage," said Carys.

"All right, then. It looks like you can stay here until May or June. I'll tell you if that changes. Oh, I haven't thought this through very well!" She held up a paper. "I made a simple little agreement." She handed the paper to Carys.

"I made a simple little agreement."

"I think we can do that..."

Carys scanned the page. "$1,200 a month, due on the first. I think we can do that. Do you need a month in advance, and what kind of deposit?" She pulled a checkbook and pen from a back pocket.

"Oh, let's not worry about a deposit. Ted and I are colleagues and old friends. I've known Jami most of her life, and it sounds like you all are in something of a bind. If you can just give me a check now for September, that will be fine."

Carys glanced around the circle of her friends, who all nodded. "Okay. I'll write the check, then we'll figure out the finances amongst ourselves later." Carys wrote a check, signed the lease, then passed the lease and her pen around the circle.

"Is true, girlfriend! I so happy!" said Emiko, giving Rachel a hug.

"It's a bit sparse on furniture," said Crystal, who was giving Sandy a hug. She looked at Carys. "Okay if we go scrounging, Boss? It's move-out time in East Lansing. I bet we can find all kinds of good stuff on the curb if we do some cruising this weekend. Still lots of hours of light left today."

"Huh? Boss? Why are you all looking at me?" asked Carys.

"You're our leader," said Sandy, puzzled.

"Of Wizzy Wig, yes, but not of everything! I don't want that kind of responsibility!"

Jami looked at her. "You want us to vote or something? There's seven of us; someone has to be in charge." She looked thoughtful. "I'm all for gender anarchy,of course, but..."

Tam playfully punched Jami in the shoulder. "You're the leader, Carys. You just are. Accept it, hon."

"I don't want that kind of responsibility!"

"Look what I found!"

"So what do you all want of me? A benevolent dictator? A den mother?"

"No. I assume we'll run things kind of like Wizzy Wig." said Crystal. "We're always talking things over, but when it comes down to it, it's your troupe and you have the final say."

"We'll end up with rules," said Tam. "We have to share stuff. I grew up with three sisters. This won't be so different."

"I am not the mom!" yelled Carys.

"Then you can be the group facilitator," said Jami. "Actually, the support group rules are a good basis for a living group agreement."

"That's true," said Carys. "We just need to add a couple of things about sharing duties and such."

"The golden rule pretty much covers that," said Tam.

"And we are staying legal," added Carys. "No alcohol or drugs in the house."

Everyone nodded. "Yes, mom," said Jami, who knew she could get away with it, barely. Carys glowered at her.

"And if this is like the support group, I want backup. That's you, Crystal."

"Why me?"

"Because you have a take-charge attitude, a level head, we know each other very well, and you're not one of my partners."

"Fine by me," said Crystal. "So how about a few of us head out to scrounge, and a few stay here to look things over and figure out what's what?"

Rachel and Emiko exchanged a glance and a nod. Rachel said, "We'll go too, if that's okay?"

"I'm going with Crystal," said Sandy.

"You okay with that, Emi?"
"Hell, yes!"

"I need a little more, just a foot or two!"

"Which leaves you and me and Tam here," said Jami, quite okay with that arrangement.

They spent the rest of the weekend scrounging what they could, moving things from the apartment, Jami's house and Crystal's house. By Sunday night they were sitting in the living room around several mismatched coffee tables, eating supper.

"I like this style," said Emiko. "Very ethnic."

Carys looked at her happy friends, especially Sandy and Rachel, who had been homeless two days ago. This feels too easy, she thought. Is this actually going to work? She pushed some food around her plate.

Jami, who came frighteningly close to being able to read her mind at times, noticed and put a hand on Carys's leg.