I woke up to smell of my favorite breakfast, the one my parents hadn't made in years. The sweet smell of freshly baked Portuguese sweet bread drifted in through my partially opened door. It was followed by the bitter smell of fresh brewed coffee and homemade sausage gravy made their way to me. I looked over at the clock on my nightstand to see that it was 10 a.m. I quickly became alarmed, the only thought in my mind was 'Had a slept through all of Friday? Why was I not the only one home?' Then it hit me with a sudden force stronger than the north winds. I came out to my last night. My dad stayed home from work. We are going clothes shopping today. My parents really did accept me. It wasn't just some dream. 

I sat up in my bed and grabbed my childhood teddy bear. Last night was the first time in two years that I hadn't need him in order to sleep. I squeezed him tightly and spoke softly but full of excitement, "Can you believe it Mr Cuddle Wuggles?! I did it! I came out and they still love me!" I quickly hugged him and placed him next to my pillow. As I stood up and made my bed out of habit I saw myself in the small mirror that hung on my wall. My short hair was a disheveled mess, my face had that early morning splotchy look I had gotten every day since I was a young child. My left lower cheek had a faint line from my pillow. My ears were a canvas of their own. I had my zero gauge Black Veil Brides earrings in my bottom hole. In my left tragus sat the black spike I bought at the mall last weekend with my friends. My second hole on both ears were a soft pink color, still sensitive from being newly gauged; the color was emphasized to a deeper red by the crisp white of my new tapers. I had seen this same person in the mirror everyday for the last 17 years of my life, yet today I was seeing myself for the first time. I smiled my quirky, way-to-much-teeth smile at the person in the mirror and felt myself giggle. 

I through on two sports bras and a baggy t-shirt, the best I could do to hide my chest without a binder, and smoothed out my hair. I took a deep breath as I walked out of my room. As soon as I stepped into the hallway my dad turned to me.

"Hell no, you are not wearing that to town," My dad said. This was it. I felt my heart race. Last night was fake. They didn't really accept me. My dad began to speak again pulling me out of my hateful thoughts, "No son of mine is going to look like a slob. You need to change before we leave." My heart rate instantly slowed

"But, but Dad it's not like I have anything I feel even remotely comfortable in anymore. All my stuff is way to girly. I can't, I won't-" I started to say before he cut me off.

"Go to your bathroom. There's a bag on the counter. I hope everything fits. No go change dude, you look like a teenage druggy in that." he said.

I let myself laugh at his druggy comment as I turned and walked to my bathroom. There it was sitting on the counter. An "It's a Boy" themed baby shower present bag. I felt my cheeks widen into a smile and opened it. To my surprise the large bag was full to the top. 

"What is all this dad?" I yelled to him in the kitchen.

"I made your mom stop at the store last night. I've never been able to buy my son anything a father should, so I did. I know you might not necessarily need it all, I guess I got a little carried away. I just couldn't help it," he said as he walked towards the bathroom. 

He stood there in the doorway as I began pulling stuff out of the bag. On top there was a pair of blue plaid, men's shorts and a black men's tank. I felt the smile sitting on my cheeks as I placed the clothes on the counter. Next I pulled out a box which, to my surprise, was of the cologne and aftershave I had pointed out to him two months ago. As I pulled out the next thing I caught a glimpse of my father's smile as I continued to unwrap the first gift he had bought for his son. From the bag I pulled out a package of boxers, a package of boxer briefs and a package of briefs. I couldn't help but laugh. 

"Really dad, 3 styles? Couldn't pick just one" I said as I laughed,

"Aye, I didn't know what kind of guy you are. Me, myself, I'm a briefs kind of guy, but how was I supposed to know what kind of guy you are?" He said as he laughed.

"Oh god dad, to much info, please never speak like that again. Is it gonna be like that all day?" I said as I pulled out the rest of the stuff. My father and I both continued to laugh softly as I pulled out hair gel, a razor, Axe body wash, a new shampoo, and a nice black leather wallet. As I reached for the last thing I looked at my father. "I thought you said I might not need it all right now? That you went over board? I don't see what you mean." I finished as I looked to see just what it was I pulled out of the bag. The second my mind registered what exactly it was in my hand I instantly started laughing, followed by a burst of laughter from my father. In my hands I was holding a box of, nothing other than, condoms. I had to fight the urge to fall to the floor in a fit of laughter and instead went and hugged my dad, both of us working hard to stop the laughter.

"I said I bought you everything a father buys for their son....I mean I guess not EVERYTHING was necessary, but I just had to, you know? Don't be upset." he said as the hug broke.

"Dad, dad I love it. It's nice to see that you guys accept me and are able to do stupid shit this, the condoms, oh and the gift bag, were the perfect touch." I said as I looked at everything sitting on my bathroom counter.

"Okay good. Now shower and get ready while I finish up breakfast. We're redoing that horrible wardrobe of yours today. Oh and you're getting freaking hair cut. Short does not automatically mean manly. You gotta change all that." he said as he gestured to my obviously girly pixie cut. 

"Mohawk?" I yelled as he walked away.

"Fohawk, otherwise your mother might kill us both." he said as he walked into the kitchen. 

I showered quickly, using my new shampoo and body wash. I got out and put on the clothes my dad had bought me. I spiked my hair the way I had practiced, but never actually left the house with, so many times before. I put on the cologne and stuck one of the condoms in my wallet, just for a reminder of the fact that this is who I am and my parents accept me. I took a deep breath as I walked to the kitchen. 

"Your plate is on the counter for you," my dad said as he heard me walk up. "Now let me see what you look like?"

I made muscle man arms as I came out of the hallway that sat just off of the living room and kitchen. The second we saw each other we both began laughing. 

"Put your arms down Luke," my dad said and my expression instantly changed. Inside I was full of joy, but my face must not have reflected that because my dad's face quickly changed too. "Oh sorry, Lucas? I shouldn't have said Luke. That was stupid. You asked to be called Lucas. You're not mad are-"

"Dad!" I said cutting him off. "This is a face of joy. All morning it's just be son, which sill felt great and all but hearing you call me Luke so casually made me feel a happiness that I honestly didn't know was possible. Thank you Dad."

"I love you Luke." He said in response

"Okay, that's enough mushy-gushy for the moment. We are both men here aren't we." I said as I straightened my back.

My dad laughed and said, "Yes, two handsome men. Now hurry up and eat so we can do our little chore and get into town."

I was already sitting down eating when my dad finished his statement. "Chore?" I mumbled through a mouth full of sweet bread dipped in gravy. I swallowed, "What chore?" I asked before shoveling another bite into my mouth.

"We gotta do a quick chore. Finish eating and then we will do it and leave."

"Fine," I said as I took another large bite of food. I ate everything on my plate in what felt like less than ten minutes. As I put my plate in the sink, I glanced at the clock. It was only 11:03. Everything had happened this morning in less than an hour. It had been an amazing day so far and I hoped that it would stay this way. 

"Let's go" my dad said snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked over at him to see that he had two garbage bags in his hands. 

"Seriously, what are we doing?" I asked laughing at him.

"All that girly clothes and shit has got to go, we gotta make some room dude." 

"Wait, are we gonna throw it all away?"

"Yeah? What else would we do with it?" he asked as I gave him a probably creepy look/.

"Burn it" I said with a devious smile on my face.

"Bonfire tonight."

"hell to the yes" I said as we both laughed.

We went into my room and cleared my closet and drawers, leaving nothing but socks, a few t-shirts, and some basketball shorts. We each carried two bags of clothes out to the back yard and headed to the front door. The realization was finally hitting me that I was about to go get a whole new wardrobe of men's clothes, clothes I feel comfortable in. Father and Son shopping spree here I come. 

"You ready to go?" asked my dad snapping me out of my thoughts once again.

"Let's do this shit" I said as I walked out the door. In my peripheral vision I saw him shake his head and laugh before he hit my arm. I smiled and got in the drivers seat of the truck. "Since I am your SON now, that means I can drive your truck right?" I asked expecting a 'hell no.' 

To my surprise my dad tossed me the keys. "Oh what the hell. You better not wreck her though."

"Wait, I can seriously drive?!" I said, the shock in my voice obvious. 

"Yes, now lets go before I change my mind." He said.

I quickly adjusted the seat, started the midnight blue Dodge Mega Cab Diesel that I spent the last year trying to get him to let me drive, and backed out of the drive way.

"Men's department, here I come." I said and we both began laughing once again.