Miranda isn’t sure if she is transgendered or a lesbian. When Cal, a gay boy her age comes to stay next door for the summer, they become close. Even though they are opposites, they are both outsiders, and their friendship blossoms over the summer. Could there be romance despite their differences?<br><br>Then twins Ada and Van move into the neighborhood, and Miranda finds herself torn between them. She can’t decide who she’s more attracted to -- Ada, who may be lesbian, or Van, who is transgendered. Will she find love with one of them instead?

A Rare and Beautiful Thing

“It’s just pretend; don’t think I’m crazy,” I stammered out, trying to laugh and be silly. They knew better though. Ada went into Nell’s room for a while, and Van held me.


“I believe you,” he said, and that gave me as much comfort as I could take right then.


Curly and his parents were gone a week. Thanksgiving with The Whole Family went by in a daze. There was a new baby cousin to cuddle, and I did hold her, but I just couldn’t get into it. I wondered what her parents would think if she turned out to be gay. Would they still love her, or would they say she was nuts. Didn’t anything ever get better as time went on?


Chapter 12