Two in One

By Pramila U. Dugel

We hear transgender people are out of the closet and now have a voice, but what about young teenagers who are confused by their gender identity? Afraid and helpless, they endeavor to solve their problem secretly without help from their family. In this dilemma of silence and shame, they take drastic steps risking their young lives. Read Two in One.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984527226

Pramila U. Dugel

Pramila U. Dugel, second time author, is originally from Nepal and was educated in Darjeeling, India. After receiving her Cambridge University Overseas certificate, she graduated with a bachelor degree in Kathmandu. She taught in International Schools in Vienna, Austria, New York, USA, and Beijing, China. As Principal of a private school in Long Beach, CA for nine years, she resigned in 2003 to pursue her dream to be an author. She established the first Kindergarten in Kathmandu, she has given teachers workshops, written educational articles (Macmillan) and has lectured in educational forums. Extensive travel allowed her the opportunity to meet people of various races, religions and cultures. With compassion and sincere interest, she has written this fiction about those who are marginalized and dejected. Could this really happen? The reader can decide.

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Copyright © 2018 by Pramila U. Dugel.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2018905526

ISBN:             Hardcover               978-1-9845-2724-0

                       Softcover                 978-1-9845-2723-3

                       eBook                       978-1-9845-2722-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/07/2018

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DEDICATION

To those who have steadfastly believed in their aspirations irrespective of bigotry, condemnations and judgments due to their religion, race, culture or sexual orientation, I dedicate this book to you. Your courage and perseverance are highly commendable. Live and let live.

CONTENTS

Return to The United States

The Daughters

Summer Break

Seema’s Dilemma

The Three Sisters

Miko’s Secret

Hank Green

Italia Arrives

Visit to Georgetown

The Psychic

Italia’s Mysterious Illness

The Emergency Room

The Note

The Research Center

Medical Report

Dr. Finn’s Disclosure

Brooke’s Discovery

Illusive Dream

The Nightmare

Italia’s Revealation

Dr. Moss

Family’s Reaction

Family Sentiments

The Long Wait

David’s Homecoming

David’s Future

The Encounter

Brooke Remininsces

The Siblings Bond

The Library

RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES

The Green family was jubilant. Hank Green was returning, with his wife and three daughters, to live permanently in the United States after seventeen years as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of IBM (International Business Machines) in three foreign countries. His daughters’ excitement about returning to their own country was slightly tempered by apprehension. Both parents assured them they had nothing to fear.

Certainly each of us will have to make adjustments to our new lifestyle, reminded their mother, Brooke.

In preparation for their return, Hank had made a trip from Italy to the States to purchase a house in Manhattan, New York. It was a large, well-constructed brownstone, but relatively old. Through the front of the house, a large hall led to the main staircase. To the right of the hall was an elegant dining room. To the left stretched a cozy square of a living room with tall, arched bay windows overlooking the front lawn and garden. From the living room, one could approach a smaller room, the library. The bedrooms were upstairs. In all, it was an attractive two-story house, the oldest and the largest on the block. It was their permanent residence.

Their household effects had not arrived. Anxiously they waited, Brooke being eager to display the art, furniture and other adornments accumulated during the last seventeen years. Each item held a memory of places and events she cherished. Gigantic crates of household effects arrived three days before Thanksgiving. As eager as she was to display the goods, she felt overwhelmed by the work involved. While she was residing in foreign countries, help had been easily available. Servants and maids were always around, helping out. Perhaps she was spoiled, she thought. She decided to wait, since, this being their permanent home, she could move according to her convenience. But what about Thanksgiving? Certainly she was not prepared to dig into those crates for her fancy plates and cutlery.

Children, this is the first Thanksgiving in your country and ours after seventeen years, having celebrated in foreign lands. Therefore, we shall have dinner in style. It will be catered, their mother stated gleefully.

Hank was now the president of IBM in New York. Seeing a highly prestigious position occupied by an African-American surprised many. Nevertheless, he had diligently and painstakingly achieved professional status, first as a diplomat and now as executive head of an international organization. His qualifications were credible and unchallenged.

The day was rather warm for November, with bright, blue skies and brilliant sunshine. The three girls looked forward to their first Thanksgiving. Delightedly, they observed while their parents prepared for dinner. The dining table looked pretty. A lace tablecloth lay over it, with an elaborate floral display as a centerpiece. On either side of the centerpiece were two tall crystal candlesticks with scented candles. A cornucopia, besides which stood a large, brightly colored ceramic turkey, held colorful fruits. All the symbols of Thanksgiving were displayed. Brooke wanted her children to understand the occasion.

At three o’clock p.m., the doorbell rang. An entourage of four men with white gloves and long white aprons appeared, holding a silver platter in each hand. Brooke directed them to the dining room. Gently, the platters were laid on the table. Dinner was ready. With smiling faces, the Green family sat around the table, observing the decorations, the flickering candles and the silver platters. A sumptuous, twenty-pound turkey garnished with edibles looked ready to be carved. When the girls noticed the pumpkin and apple pies, they could wait no longer.

Daddy, let’s start. I am starving, said Italia, the youngest daughter, excitedly.

Honey, we need to pray first. Please put your hands together and bow your heads, requested their father.

A short prayer of gratitude was said, with the family repeating after him.

Children, let’s count our blessings. How fortunate we have been. Daddy’s job enabled us to travel to different places. We learned from the experience. Now, as president of a prestigious organization, he still is in a position to afford us an easy, stress free life. Thank you, Hank, said their mother, lifting her glass of wine.

Her daughters held up their glasses of apple cider.

Conversation at the table revolved around their shared experiences, their father’s new job, and, more importantly, a new life in their own country. Each child had much to learn regarding American teenagers’ lifestyles, attitudes, and attire. At school, making and keeping friends would be of equal importance. Showing respect and tolerance for different races, cultures and religions was paramount. While living abroad, their parents had instilled in them the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity.

As children of diplomats, they were exposed to various cultures and people. But would it be different in the States? They had no clue. Often they had heard of confrontations between people of other races and African-Americans. In the international community, as well as in their schools abroad, no such altercations occurred. What were they to expect? They were confused.

Families of diplomats are sheltered, being exposed only to their own groups. Whichever foreign country we resided in, we seldom interacted with the locals. Therefore, we were ignorant of their lifestyles and habits. But now, in the United States, we are no longer diplomats, reminded their mother.

In this mosaic of various races, cultures and religions that is America, we definitely have more exposure. The ability to defend oneself in a pool of differences is the art of survival, interjected their father.

The girls attended an exclusive private school in Manhattan. They were chauffeured to school daily. Several children of diplomats, together with a few Caucasians and Asian-Americans, were enrolled too. A total of ten African-Americans received scholarships, with the expectation that their grades would measure up to the standards required. Each Green girl had a foreign name. This puzzled the class. Soon, everyone knew the reason. The oldest, Miko, was born in Japan; Seema, the second girl, was born in India; and Italia, the youngest, was born in Italy.

As much as the two older siblings tried to be a part of their respective classes, they both felt the pressure of being assumed to be different from the rest. Unable to change the dynamics of the their class and afraid to instigate any confrontation, they pretended everything was normal at school.

THE DAUGHTERS

Sixteen-year-old Miko was petite, with dark brown hair, light green eyes, and a fair complexion. As a quiet, well-mannered child, she displayed no snobbishness. Always in the background, she sought no attention in class or elsewhere. Entering a new school at a relatively older age, she was fully aware of the necessary adjustments required of her. Miko endeavored to assimilate into her class. With only one year before graduation, she desired to make her experience in school pleasant and successful.

Miko, how is your new school? Are you happy there? questioned her father.

I’m happy with the work and a few new friends. Dina, a white girl, is my best friend, responded Miko.

Although some Caucasian girls and boys were not comfortable with her, she purposefully kept it a secret from her parents. Seeing the prejudice in a private school such as this surprised her, and she disbelieved it. Students at her international schools abroad had never displayed such negative reactions towards anyone. Silent prejudices and judgments certainly dominated in all walks of life, she assumed. Neither of her parents had prepared her for such a scenario. Nevertheless, ignoring the negative, she kept her composure.

Tall and attractive at the age of fourteen, Seema had straight, black hair, light green eyes, and a fair complexion Her pretty, chiseled face with its sharp features was much noticed. Although pleasant by nature, often she seemed disturbed and confused. Her eyes projected a distant look. Obviously, something was bothering her. Steadfastly continuing her studies, yet aware of the whisperings amongst her peers about her identity and good looks, she remained aloof. This affair became a topic of discussion amongst her peers on a daily basis. Their consensus was that she was certainly multiracial but not black.

At home, Seema disclosed nothing about school. Though it was her first year at a new school and she having to deal with traumatic personal problems, she neither talked about or discussed anything. Two black girls in her class refused to acknowledge her as black. Her skin color was unlike theirs, and her lingo and style were far removed from other black sisters. Moreover, she came from a wealthy family.

"Seema, what are