A Better Way of Making The Point

‘THE VOICES NO ONE HEARS, PART SIX: EACH A TREASURE BE' Then, I hear the voice again.  -Let your own inner light shine out, Casey Isaiah Samuel, and all of those whom society has cast aside as trash, and told they should dwell in shame, will see that they can each a treasure be-.   -I will, Lord,- I reply. Then the darkness itself screams and explodes, and all around me is nothing but blinding light. * * * “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, CASEY?” screamed a nurse, a little too close to my face. “Of course,” I replied, still partly encased in the comfort of the vision.  “Why wouldn’t I bee?” “We cut a little closer to your heart than we’d intended, which is why you’re waking up in the E.R., not a recovery room,” she replied.  “But we caught it in time, so everything is fine, if you’re awake and responsive.” Before I could say for certain that everything was FINE, I had to look down.  I saw a totally boy sized chest, with just a little breadth to it, and nodded.   “Yep,” I replied.  “Everything is fine.  Just like I wanted.” She nodded, but made no further comment, and walked away. * * * “So,” I said, walking out of the Emergency Room a few hours later to even more anxious faces than after the first surgery.  You were in TherE.R., not just a recovery room, I reminded myself.  “What do you think of my boyish figure.” Orion ran forward and held me so close he almost took my breath away.   “I’m just glad that you’re alive, Brother.  That was quite a fright.” I saw in the faces of our parents and Sheila that he was not alone in this. “Well,” I said awkwardly.  “I’m sorry that that happened.  But I did survive.  Truth be told, I had another vision as I was going under, and was given a slightly new, although very closely related, mission, so I knew that I would survive, but of course, I  know that none of you had the benefit of that.”   There was a long and awkward silence.  “So?” I repeated, breaking my big brother’s hold and pointing down.  “What do you think?” “I think if I didn’t know that you were born in a girl’s body, Case,” said Sheila.  “I’d have no reason to doubt that you were ever in any sense, including physically, anything but a boy.” The smile I felt that bring on almost stretched my incredibly large nostrils past the outer edges  of my face.  * *.* “So, Casey?” said Dad as we drove home a little over a week later.  With the problem that had arisen during my surgery, the hospital had insisted that I stay long enough for them to be sure there were no lingering problems to worry about.  “Tell us about this vision you had as you were going under.” We had all silently agreed NOT to discuss this at the hospital, for multiple obvious reasons. “Well,” I began.  “I was standing in a sea of darkness, with shadows approaching from all sides.  But I was holding a gigantic candle.  No, scratch that.  I WAS a gigantic candle.  And my beams destroyed all of the shadows and darkness, and there was nothing but light.  And then the voice told me to “Let your inner light shine out, Casey Isaiah Samuel, and then all those whom society has cast aside as trash, who live in shame, will see that they can each a treasure be”, and I said that I would.” “Wow,” said Sheila.  “That’s quite a calling.” “Well,” said Orion.  “You’d best make good on that promise, Kid Brother.  Although we’ve already been doing some things in that direction.” “Yes,” I nodded.  “But I think that this is a call to keep doing the big stuff, but also seek out those who need a more personal, one on one approach, and give it to them.” All nodded, but none of us said any more, for there was nothing more to say until I or we started to find such people. * * * That night, though, I got an idea of where to start looking. I was on my Facebook Page, when I got a message from a person that I had never heard of.  “Hello, Casey Isaiah Samuel,” it began.  “My name is Ulises Zargon, and I am, like you, a transgender boy.  My original name, birth name, was too decidedly female to keep in any form when I decided to embrace my true gender.  Like you, my birth family was not affirming of my decision, but unlike you, I did not have the option of going to live with a friend whose family was affirming.  So, basically.  HELP!  Feel free to share this with all on your team.  Sincerely, Lost.” I read it through twice more, just to be sure that I hadn’t missed anything, then forwarded it to all of my friends, adding a note that I understood we would not be taking any action that night. Although, I did send Ulises a quick note telling him to stay strong and not give up or give in to despair. Then I lay down and tried to go to sleep, although I tossed and turned a long time before I did, and even when I did my sleep was full of THE WORST nightmares that I had ever had.  Until just before dawn, when I had a dream that was akin to my waking visions, and then I knew what we had to do. * * * “So, Case,” said my big brother at breakfast.  “I’m guessing that you read that email before going to sleep, judging from your screams last night.” I nodded.  “Well, you know what that kind of situation can lead to,” I said. Orion and our parents nodded. “But,” I added.  “On a nicer note, just before waking up, I had a dream from above that told me what we and I need to do.  I’ll wait until we can get the whole crew together to share the ‘we’ stuff, but I’ll get started on the ‘I’ ‘stuff right after school.” “Casey,” said Dad.  “It’s Saturday.  You can start right after breakfast.” “I guess that email put me even more out of sorts than I realized,” I said.  I thought a moment.  “And I guess having spent a little more than the past week in the hospital confused my sense of time too.” “I guess so, Son,” said Mom. Dad and Orion nodded, and then we finished our breakfast in silence. * * * Right after breakfast, then, I got to work. I started by sending this desperate boy, whom I sensed from his tone and speaking style was a bit younger than myself (Not that seventeen is that old, but he sounded more thirteen or fourteen) a more detailed note. “Dear Ulises, hang in there Kid.  I know it can be tough.  Just remember, you are a treasure that no one else can be.  I don’t know if you are a person of Faith, or if Faith is part of what your non affirming family is using to bear you over the head with, but the God I believe in does NOT hate Transgender people like us, or anyone else on the LGBTQUIA+ spectrum, or anyone, for that matter, for just being who we  are.  Since I believe we’re all God’s Creation, how could God, whatever God one believes in, hate us, just for being who we were made to be.  So, my recommendation, when those around you start being nasty about who you are, who you did not CHOOSE to be, if possible, remove yourself from that immediate situation, and aloud or silently, just tell yourself ‘I’m a treasure, I’m a treasure, in the eyes of God, or The Universe,’ or whatever you believe in.  Let me know if this was helpful.  And I’ve got a bigger idea that I’m going to get my team on as soon as possible.   Again, hang in there, Kid.  Our day of freedom and their day of reckoning is at hand.  Sincerely, Casey Isaiah Samuel, Messenger.” I read it through twice, then sent it. And then I tried to go about my other business for that day, for even though it was a Saturday, I did have a pretty full day planned, with quite a bit to catch up on after a little more than a week away, but this desperate kid was front and center in my mind all afternoon, and even during dinner, even though it was my favorite, Mac and Cheese with meat and tomatoes.  After dinner, though, I got an email that made me grin ear to ear, and I’m pretty sure did briefly make my snout even wider than my face. “Dear Casey Isaiah Samuel,” it started.  “Thank you very much for your suggestion.  I told myself that ‘I’m a treasure’ every time I was in a bad situation today, and while it didn’t change the external situation, it did change my experience of it.  As you seem to have guessed,, I am quite young.  I just turned fourteen last week.   I really appreciate your support.  Send me any more ideas you alone or you and your team have.  I look forward to hearing from you again, Casey Isaiah, or should I call you MR. Samuel. Sincerely, Starting To Be Found.” I took several mental steps back at even the suggestion of MR. Samuel.  “Just Casey is fine,” I quickly typed back.  “Orion and my dad is MR. Samuel.” Then I ran downstairs to tell Dad, Mom and my big brother the marvelous news. * * * “Great!” they all three cried as soon as I told them.   “Wonderful, Casey,” said Dad and Mom and “Marvelous Case,” said my big brother. “And a week from today is another meeting of our group,” added Orion.  “So we can all brain storm together there.” Since he had given me permission, I had forwarded Ulises’s initial email to our entire group and asked them to be thinking up ideas individually, but said that we would wait until we were all together in person to discuss them. “So, what do we do between now and then?” asked my big brother. “Well,” I said.  I’d been thinking about this for a while, and while I wanted to keep the larger societal transition going, I also had my personal transition to keep up.   “This isn’t really for the revolution, but I’ve been thinking lately about completing my own personal transition.” “Genital reconstruction?” asked all three at once. I nodded.  “And a full hysterectomy.  I mean, I haven’t been having periods since I had been on testosterone for a month or so, but I AM a boy, and I want that all the way.” They all seemed at a loss for words for a while.  Finally, Dad asked “Are you ABSOLUTELY certain, Casey Isaiah Samuel, because that IS irreversible?” I waited to be sure that it was my turn to speak, not wanting to commit a faux pas, but when he said nothing further, I nodded.  “Yes.   COMPLETELY IRREVERSIBLE is what I want.  I AM a boy, and I want to be physically a boy all the way.” Dad and mom nodded.  “We’ll start making some calls Monday, Casey,” said Mom, and Dad nodded. Then we set down for our usual Saturday evening guilty pleasure television binge. * * * The Saturday afternoon a week later was the most animated meeting that we had yet had, since we were discussing how to help a real, specific person, rather than just a general idea of promoting equality for all. “Well, Case” said Sheila.  “You’re idea of telling him to tell himself he’s a treasure in the eyes of whatever God he believes in when he’s in a bad situation seems like a good start.” I nodded. “I didn’t send it out, because he had not expressly given me permission, but that evening I got an email from him that said that he had tried it when he was in bad situations that day, and it had helped.” “Even better,” smiled Teddy.   Oh what a smile. . .  I gave myself a mental shake. You’re here to work, I reminded myself. “But how do we follow it up?” I asked.  “With him, and with others who need a more personal touch.”  I had a thought or two, but I wanted to hear their ideas first. “We could make that a phrase at our rallies,” suggested Dad. “Something like, ‘Everyone who is cast aside and called trash and shamed by society is still a treasure in the eyes of whatever God they believe in, or the Universe,’ if they don’t believe in any’.” “That’s a great idea, Dad,” we all, all the my age crowd at least, Mom said ‘George’ instead said at once, even though he was only actually Orion and my dad. “And when we hear people saying nasty things to people of any age just for being in some way ‘different’, we could say to both ‘you know, they’re a treasure in the eyes of their creator and or the universe’,” added Sheila. “And punch bullies in the mouth,” said Orion.  Before our parents could speak, he held up a hand.  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”  Although, I knew, there was a part of him that wanted to not be. No one had any more new ideas at that moment, and Dad and Sheila’s were close enough to the ones I had had to not mention them, so then we talked about how to employ the new ones and keep employing the old ones, then had dinner, broke up, and all went home to start putting our new ideas and keep putting our old ones to work. Although all that I had the energy left to do when we got home was brush my teeth band go to bed. * * * “We have an appointment tomorrow after school with a urologist, Casey Isaiah Samuel, to start discussions of your um, below the waist surgeries” said Dad after picking my big brother and I up from school a week and a half later.  “And she wants us ALL four there, Orion.” Orion nodded, looking puzzled but not upset. Then my big brother looked right at me.  “Casey,” he said.  He got my full attention then, as he always did when he used my full first name.  “Pauline and I have four tickets for ‘Captured on Venus’, a week from this Friday evening, if you and Teddy would like to join us.  I know you’re not wanting to spend too much time on personal stuff, other than completing your transition, but you can’t have missed the way he looks at you, and you could just call it paying him back for ‘Star Battle’.” I thought a moment.   “I’ll ask him,” I finally said.  “That’s all I can promise.’ My big brother nodded.  “Of course.” Then we drove home in silence. * * * “WOW!  What a ride,” I said as we left my appointment the next day.  I didn’t know what else to say. “Yes,” was all Mom could manage, and Dad and Orion seemed unable to speak at all. * * * “I’m still fully committed to it,” I told my friends on Monday at school.   “But the final bit of the physical transition is quite a lot to take in, especially since DR. Felps, the one whom I saw when I started this process and have been seeing routinely since, whose been my guide, I guess you could say, throughout all  of the process,” I added the last after the blank looks on the faces of all of my friends at the name, “is recommending a full hysterectomy and general reconstruction all at one time.” “That sounds like an awfully long operation for one surgeon, Casey” offered Sheila. “Actually,” I said, noting the concern the full name marked.  “There will be at least two surgeons, because it is actually two separate operations.  Three in a way, although two are almost if not always done together.” “Isn’t being under that long dangerous?” asked Paul, concern mirrored in his handsome face. I nodded.  “It’s not without risks.  But, apparently, something in my body makes it even more dangerous to change part, but not all, of my reproductive system.  So they are going to change it all at once.” “So?” asked Ralph.  “When’s the big day?” I stared at him.  “Do you remember how long it was between the first appointment  and when I got this gorgeous mug,” I pointed to my INCREDIBLY attractive boy’s face.  “Or these,” I pointed to my boy sized breasts.  “This was a first meeting.  We won’t even start talking about scheduling for weeks if not months.” “I guess you’ll be going to college locally, then, Case” said Paul. I hesitated.  I hadn’t shared this with anyone yet, apart from VERY privately, by necessity, with Dad and Mom,  but it couldn’t be hidden any longer.   “I’ve been accepted at UCLA, but I’m deferring enrollment until I’m finished transitioning.   It just seemed simpler that way.” They initially all looked shocked, but then nodded. “That makes sense, Case, I’ll grant you,” said Sheila. “And now, after Graduation, for at least a little while, I can give all of my other energy to the movement.” “And may all who some parts of society currently tell are trash, and dwell in shame, because of who they are realize that they can each a treasure be,” said Pauline. I nodded, and we all stood and put our hands together.  “We pledge to do as Casey Isaiah Samuel’s Vision Commanded and show all of those whom society has labeled trash and said should live in shame because of who they are, about which they did not have a choice, that they can each a treasure be.” Then we sat down and finished our meal, then headed for our afternoon classes. * * * After school Monday afternoon, I asked Teddy about Friday. “I’m sorry, Case,” he said, and he TRULY looked it.  “But I have another commitment that evening.  But, some other time, I’d love to get ‘repaid’”. “Okay,” I said.  To be honest, I felt more relieved than upset, because I wanted to focus all of my non self transitioning efforts and energy on transitioning humanity, but had felt that it would be rude to flatly refuse my big brother.  “I’ll come up with something else some time.” I hoped that that would be the end of it, though, because while I did REALLY LIKE Teddy, I didn’t really have time for romance. * * * “So?” asked Orion as soon as I got in the car. I shrugged.  “He said that he was sorry, and TRULY looked it, but he has another commitment this Friday, but he said he. . .” I stopped there.  “Why don’t you ask Ralph and Paul.  I know it’s not quite the same as your Kid Brother, but. .  .” I trailed off, uncertain how to finish the sentence. Orion nodded.  “I will.   I don’t want those tickets to go to waste.” Then we rode the rest of the way home in silence. * * * Ulises and I continued to correspond several times a week, although he had started simply signing his emails, ‘Found’.  The smile that creased my face the first time I saw that. . . “Wow, Casey,” said Orion.  “I knew your SNOUT was big, but I didn’t know it could get wider than your whole face.” I had looked in a nearby mirror, seen that he was right, and for the first time been glad that I did not have a penis and testicles yet.   “Well,” I had said.  “I just got an email from Ulises signed simply, ‘Found’. Orion had given the biggest smile that I had ever seen him wear, making me even gladder. * * * But the best news of all came just a few days before graduation, when MR. Hardball went on live, national, prime time, network television, along with some of his at one time unwilling to change members who had had a change of heart, although it did not include my birth parents, MR. and MRS. Cushner, as I now called them, to make an announcement. “To all those whom my former church once persecuted, and all whom society has cast aside as trash and said should live in shame simply for being who they are, who they were made to be, I wish to apologize.  And to say that to God, as I now believe in God, or whatever higher power each of you believe in, you not only can each a treasure be, you already ARE a treasure, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not worth your time.  To Every single Human Being on this planet, Each A Treasure Be.” “WOW!” We all said as Dad turned off the television and we each prepared to get ready for bed.   “I never thought even I’d live to see the day when he said that on Live, National, Prime Time, Network television, even with his interactions with our group,,” I said. “Yes,” said Mom.  “And where he leads, others will follow.  Maybe some day soon every human being on this planet will realize that they are a treasure, even the MOST currently societally downtrodden and shamed.” I nodded, and then we all headed off to our bed rooms. * * * But that night, as I knelt by my bed and said my prayers, I added a little.  “Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to show all of your children, even the most ‘different’ the truth, and help me to continue to show them that they, and ALL humans, can ‘Each A Treasure Be’.  Amen.” END