“That’s true. I remember him being all enthusiastic and twirling that big baton down the center of the football field at halftime. Always smiling. Yeah, he was a natural for that job. And I’ve gotta say that he was the most spirited drum major I’ve ever seen. He got everyone up and out of their seats, cheering like crazy!”

“That’s just it. It makes him so happy to be somebody else for a while, especially if it involves impersonation of a big female star. I don’t want to deny him that. Who’s getting hurt?”

“No one, as far as I can see.”

“I think he’s just having fun. You know, you talk to bees. That honey you harvest gives you a thrill. Lucky for you that your thrills are within the boundaries of society’s norms. There are so many people who suffer. You know, all the stigma, bias, and even hate crimes when all they’re trying to do is be happy and not hurt anyone else.”

“So you think Charlie’s really a straight guy who just likes feminine things?”

“Yeah. I think this is how he was wired. Charlie is a good guy and we really love each other. But there are going to have to be some concessions.”

“I understand. Like showing up at the wedding, uninvited and unannounced, all glammed up?”

“Exactly. I’m thinking if I could tell myself that when he dresses up, he’s putting on his work clothes, like a costume, then maybe we could work something out. There’s a time and place for everything, right?”

I didn’t say a word. I could only imagine what she had put herself through to come to that conclusion.

“I don’t know if that is how this works, Leslie. It may be that he wants to be Charlene more and more. Or it could be that Charlene gets boring and he’d prefer to be Charles. In a smoking jacket. With velvet slippers. I have no idea. But I sure do admire the hell out of you for trying so hard to find a solution. This is not your regular marital problem.”

“I know, but I can’t just throw us away, you know?”

“I know. You shouldn’t. And look, not everybody wants to be a stevedore. People come in every size, color, and way we can imagine.”

“Well, that’s sort of the way I’m seeing it,” she said.

“Look, you’re my sister. Whatever you want to do, you know I’m going to support your decision.”

This may not have looked like progress to the conventional world, but it was. Leslie had gone from an emphatic this ain’t happening no more to a let’s talk about it. Even Momma was going through some kind of evolution in her thoughts.

“I give my girl a lot of credit,” she said over coffee the next morning.