A Girl Named Fred

Only her father called her Fred. No matter how hard she tried, he could never forgive her for being born a girl. Needing a boy to help on the farm, he made sure she knew daily that she was lacking. Her mother and sisters called her Freddie but they didn't work in the barn to hear his disparaging remarks. When she was ten, he left...for good, leaving them with all the work and worry to make the mortgage payments.
After ten years, they began falling farther and farther behind, forcing Momma to sell the farm and buy a small home in town. No one understood her love for the farm except Momma, but her hands were tied. Either sell it or allow the bank to take it. By selling, they would have enough to find a place in town where they could both work to make the much more manageable payments.
Freddie had to change from the farm girl that she loved into a hostess at the cafe and then the Hotel. The positions opened doors she didn't know existed. While her two married sisters and mother were pleased with her transformation, Freddie was not.