Caught In the Act

by Jennifer

  

It was raining. Well in England that's hardly unusual, especially in December. Back in 1955 when I was 14, I was walking home from school along a country lane when it started to pour. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as it turned out), there was a large tin shed close by, and I dashed into it for cover. The rain began to settle into an endless downpour, and after about twenty minutes I was impatient to move on. But I didn't want to get soaked to the skin in the process.

I looked around the dim interior of the shed, and suddenly noticed two girl's bicycles leaning against the wall. I idly wandered over to them, and noticed that in the open saddlebag of one of them was something that I instantly recognised. It was the school mackintosh of Sion Convent girl's school, which was quite close to where I lived. Almost without thinking, I pulled the coat out of the saddlebag and held it up.

The mackintosh was made of unlined light grey rubberised cotton, and was fitted with a buckle belt supported by two keepers attached to the mac, one on either side of the waist. From the shoulders hung an attached hood with a square top, a common style on girl's school raincoat hoods. The hood had a maroon lining, and tie tapes to secure it under the chin. It was of course completely waterproof and ideal to keep the wearer dry in the heaviest of downpours.

Instinct told me to put it back and accept a soaking, but my spirit of self interest was stronger. With a grin, I pulled the mackintosh on, did up the buttons, and fastened the buckle belt around my waist. Then walking across to the doorway I cautiously peered out into the pouring rain. Not a soul in sight. I pulled the hood up over my head and fastened the tie tapes in a bow under my chin. Then, taking a deep breath, I set out into the rain to continue my journey home.

Someone once said that if you don't want to get found out for doing something, don't do it. A pity I'd forgotten that simple piece of advice.

I'd barely walked more than a couple of hundred yards when four girls came out of the gate of a house, and as soon as they saw me, ran up to me and cornered me against the fence. Three of them wore mackintoshes identical to mine, and one wore a grey overcoat and carried an umbrella. They were obviously from Sion Convent, and I was also obviously in deep trouble. Their hostility was clear as one of them said menacingly 'And just where did you get that mac? You got it from my saddlebag, didn't you? We saw you go into that shed where we left our bikes, and you certainly weren't wearing it when you went in, were you? Apart from that, you gave yourself away as a boy by the way you were walking back down the road. Well? Did you or didn't you steal it from my saddlebag?

By now I was really scared. Girls they may have been, but three of them were taller than I was, and I knew I would have no chance of breaking away and making a run for it. It seemed that an admission of guilt was in order, so I sheepishly said 'Look, I'm sorry. It's just that there I was trying to stay dry, and there was your mac with nobody else around. So I thought I'd sort of, well, borrow it.'

'Borrow it?' scowled the girl, 'Oh sure. And just when were you going to bring it back? Stole it more likely!'

'Well I didn't mean to' I said weakly.

'I didn't mean to' mimicked the girl sarcastically, 'Of course you meant to, or you wouldn't have done it.' She looked up at the downpour, and said 'Let's get out of this rain. You'd better come indoors and we'll see what Mum has to say.' Before I could protest, strong hands grabbed me and marched me back to the house, up the side path, through a door and into the kitchen.

An attractive, middle-aged woman was sitting at the table, and I was unceremoniously thrust into the room. One of the girls unfastened my hood, threw it back from my head, and then unfastened the mackintosh and removed it to reveal my school uniform underneath. There was now obviously no question that I was a boy. The girl laid the mackintosh over the back of a chair and they all unfastened their own hoods, and two of them sat me down on a chair. Standing up, the woman looked at me with an astonished expression on her face and said 'Susan, what on earth is this all about?'

'Oh simple really, Mum' said the girl who had accused me, 'Would you believe we caught him stealing my school mac? I left it in the saddlebag of my bike in the old quarry shed just up the road, and we saw him go into the shed about half an hour ago. Then a few minutes ago, there he comes, as bold as brass, walking down the lane wearing my mac. He says he took it to keep dry, but I call it stealing.'

Her mother looked at me, and coming over to me, picked up the mackintosh and looked at it thoughtfully for a moment. 'Well?' She said to me, 'Is this true, did you take it?' With four witnesses, denial was pointless. I'd been caught red handed. I looked awkwardly at the ground and quietly mumbled 'Yes.'

'Hmmm' said the woman thoughtfully, 'The question is, what are we going to do about it, that's the point. We can't just ignore this you know, stealing is a very serious offence. On the other hand, I really don't want to go as far as reporting you to the police.' She thought deeply for a moment, and then said 'Empty out your pockets and take off your blazer.' Wondering what she had in mind, I did as I was told.

Putting the mackintosh back on the chair, she looked at the name tag in my school blazer, and then went through my wallet and diary. Taking a piece of paper, she wrote down some notes, and when she had finished she handed them back to me and said 'Right now young David Taylor, I know where you live and which school you go to. Now stay there while I phone your mother.' My spirits sank as she went out of the room to make the call, while the four girls stood guard over me. It was quite a lengthy call, and because she had closed the door behind her, I heard nothing of what was said.

But eventually she came back into the room, and said 'All right. I'm going to take you home, and we're going to discuss with your mother what we should do with you.' Turning to her daughter she said 'You'd better come too Susan, you're a witness. Fiona and Jane, would you like to go and get the bikes and bring them back here while we're gone.' I stood up and put my blazer on, and the lady put her coat on before taking Susan and I out to her car. She opened the doors and I had to sit in the back seat flanked by two locked child-proof doors. There was to be no way out of this situation.

The drive home only took about ten minutes, and we soon pulled up outside my front door. I led the way up to the front door and opened it with my key. As we went in, my mother came out into the hall to meet us, and we all went into the lounge. 'How do you do Mrs. Taylor' said the lady, 'I'm Margaret Reid, and this is my daughter Susan.' They shook hands and we sat down.

'Right' said Mum, looking at me, 'Now exactly what's this all about David, in your own words.' As before, I really had no defence, and my weak excuse about needing to keep dry cut no ice at all with her. She'd always been a stickler for honesty, and was obviously pretty angry. I faltered to a halt, and Mum said 'Well I must say you've really let both of us down. I thought you were someone I could trust, but obviously I can't.' She paused for a while, and there was an awkward silence. Then she said 'The question is, what are we going to do with you? We certainly can't let this go unpunished, but Mrs. Reid has very kindly agreed not to press criminal charges. So I think she should decide what we should do with you. What do you think Margaret? Would that be fair enough?'

'Yes, that seems reasonable' she said, 'The question is, what?' There was a long pause as she tried to think of something.

Suddenly, Susan began to smile before giving a quiet chuckle. 'Can I suggest something?' she said. 'Yes, of course' said her mother, 'What do you have in mind?'

'Well' said Susan, looking at me with a wicked grin, 'I was just thinking. We've just studied 'The Mikado' at school, and in it, there's a song called To let the punishment fit the crime. We had to think up some examples, and I've just thought of a beauty.'

'As long as you're not suggesting that we chop off his head' smiled Mum, 'What is it?'

'Well, his crime was to steal my school mackintosh, right?'

'Yes?'

'So if he wants to wear it, let him, with one small addition. If he's going to wear it, I think he should wear the complete Sion uniform to go with it before we take him for a nice long walk around town. With any luck, some of his schoolmates will see him. That'll really give him cause to regret what he's done.' Pausing for a moment, she suddenly said 'Come to think of it, we're coming into town to buy my new school overcoat next Saturday, aren't we? Why don't you bring him round to our place in the morning, and we'll dress him up. Then he can come shopping and spend the day with us.' Mum and Mrs. Reid looked at each other and grinned slightly. They were warming to the idea. In a further moment of inspiration, Susan laughed and said 'And just to top it off, we Sion girls will be singing on the old town hall steps on Saturday evening, so he can join in. Then he can come home with us, and we'll let him change back into a boy again.'

I listened to her suggestion with increasing horror. Surely our mothers wouldn't agree to such a thing, and I looked at my mother with hopeful anticipation. But as Susan explained her idea, my disappointment grew as she at first smiled at the idea, and finally began to chuckle. The reaction from Mrs. Reid was equally disappointing, and I knew that I couldn't expect much sympathy from either of them. As Susan finished with a broad grin on her face, I jumped up and said 'No, please no! You wouldn't, you couldn't. If anyone sees me I'll be finished, dead!'

But this appeal fell on stony ground. 'Oh no you won't' smiled Mrs. Reid, 'You'll survive. I think it's a wonderful idea. One day of short, sharp humiliation and it'll be over. And I guarantee it'll make you think twice about stealing again. What do you think Mary?' One look at my mother told me that she was convinced, and to my utter dismay she looked at me and said 'Yes, I think Susan's idea is exquisitely appropriate. So David, that's final, and I'm not putting up with any more arguments, is that clear? The alternative would be an appearance in court, a police record, and probably expulsion from school. I take it you prefer Susan's suggestion?'

I was cornered and I knew it. Almost with tears in my eyes I said 'Well I don't really have any choice, do I? I suppose you realise this is blackmail, don't you?'

'Oh I don't think so' smiled Mrs. Reid, 'Let's just call it coercion.'

'All right then' said Mum, 'That's decided then. I'll bring him over first thing on Saturday morning and leave him in your tender care. Do you have a Sion uniform to fit him?'

'Oh yes' grinned Susan, standing next to me, 'Look, he's slightly smaller than me, so my old one will fit him nicely. What size shoes does he take?'

'Size six' said Mum.

'Perfect, I've got just the thing, a nice pair of regulation style junior T bar shoes.' I groaned in fearful anticipation already, and blushed as the final details of my punishment were discussed.

Satisfied with the arrangements, Susan and her mother got up to leave, and we saw them to the door. As they walked to their car, Susan turned and laughed. 'See you on Saturday little girl, don't be late!' Mum saw the funny side of it and grinned as she closed the door and we went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. She started peeling some potatoes and said 'Well David, I must say you're going to find Saturday a day you won't forget in a hurry. Let's hope this is the last time we'll need to correct you in such a salutary way.' I couldn't help but agree.

The next few days passed all too quickly, and Saturday morning dawned cloudy but mild. Mum woke me early, and obviously didn't want me to be late for my appointment with Susan and her mother. After a relatively hurried breakfast, I helped Mum wash up the breakfast things and put them away. I watched the kitchen clock with dread as the time for our departure approached. Finally, all was done, and Mum led the way into the hall. She put on her beige poplin raincoat and I wore a thick pullover. That done, Mum opened the front door and we went out to the car. The journey to the Reid's house was short, so there wasn't much time for talking. I felt so depressed I couldn't think of anything to say, and sooner than I would have wished, we arrived.

We went up to the front door, and Mum rang the bell. A moment later Susan opened the door and smiled. Because she was due to sing with the school carol singers that evening, she was dressed in her school uniform. 'Do come in' she said, 'Everything's ready.' We went in, and Susan hung Mum's coat in the hall before we went into the lounge. Mrs. Reid got up from her armchair as we entered the room. 'Good morning' she said cheerfully, 'You're right on time. Would you like to start right away? Then when David's changed we can have a cup of tea before we leave.'

Mum looked at me and grinned. 'Yes, why not? Susan says that everything's ready. Is that right?'

'Oh indeed yes' smiled Mrs. Reid, 'She's had it all laid out for a couple of hours, I think she's rather looking forward to this. Come on up to her room and we'll get started.' She led the way up the stairs and into Susan's bedroom. As we entered my heart missed a beat as I recognised the familiar Sion Convent school uniform that I'd seen hundreds of girls wearing, hanging up waiting for me.

'Now then' said Mrs. Reid, 'I'd prefer it if Susan doesn't see David without a stitch on, so Susan, would you mind going outside just until he's got his knickers on? Then you can come back in and see him getting dressed.' Knickers? I thought. Yuck. Susan compliantly went out of the room and closed the door. Then the two women set to work. Mum helped me to undress until I was completely naked, while Mrs. Reid picked up a pair of maroon knickers, elasticated at the legs and waist. 'Right' she said, holding them out, 'In you get.' I reluctantly put each leg into them, and she pulled them up and tidied them at the legs and waist.

'All right Susan' called Mrs. Reid, 'You can come in now.' Susan came in, and as soon as she saw me she giggled. 'Oh lovely' she grinned, 'I can't wait to see when he's fully dressed. Carry on, this is going to be good.'

'Very well' chuckled her mother, 'Let's give you a nice little bust next, shall we?' She picked up a 'teen first' white cotton bra, and passing my arms into it, fastened it closed behind me. Then she padded it out with two small socks. 'Oh yes, very nice' she giggled, 'Quite the little teenager aren't you? Now, blouse next.' She took a crisp white school blouse off its hanger, put my arms into the sleeves and buttoned it up to my neck, followed by the maroon and silver diagonally striped Sion school tie that she tied round my neck before turning down the collar of the blouse and tidying the knot of the tie. 'Now for one item that I really hate wearing' said Fiona, 'My regulation school gym tunic. I'm going to love seeing you in this.'

She took it down off its hanger and held it with the back opening towards me. 'In you get' she grinned. I stepped into the grey tunic and she pulled it up my body before putting my arms through the armholes. Then she stood behind me and fastened the buttons running up the back. Turning me round, she did up the buckle belt and secured the button which held the end of the belt in place. She put her hands up under the tunic and pulled my blouse and tie down neatly. Then she also smoothed down the hem of the tunic so that the pleated skirt hung properly. 'Right' said Fiona, 'Sit down'. I sat on a chair, and going to a drawer she took out a pair of white socks. 'We senior girls are allowed to wear tights in the winter' she said, 'But the little juniors have to wear these, and I want you to look as cute as possible.' Coming over to me, she knelt down and pulled a pair of white ankle socks onto my feet and turned them down neatly. On top of these came a pair of her brown T bar school strap shoes which she fastened on securely with the buckles at the side. Definitely a junior style, and designed not to come off.

Standing back to admire their handiwork, the two ladies grinned with satisfaction, but Susan was obviously not satisfied yet. She'd set out to enjoy a day of fun at my expense, and she was determined to get it.

'Now then' she said, 'I think it's time to do something about your hair. I'm so glad it's nice and long at the moment.' She opened a draw, and I groaned as she drew out some white hair ribbon and a brush. 'Since you're going to be a sweet little junior girl' she smirked, 'Let's do the job properly and put some pretty little bows in your hair, shall we? Now sit still and keep your head straight'. After parting my hair down the centre she picked up an elastic band, and pulling my hair on one side into a bunch, she wound it tightly around my hair. She did the same on the other side of my head, so that I now had two bunches of hair sticking up conspicuously. Then, taking a length of white hair ribbon, she wound it firmly around one bunch of hair, tied it tightly in position in a non-slip bow, and pushed it hard down to the base of the bunch of hair close to my scalp. 'Ow!' I said 'That hurt, it's too tight!'

'Nonsense' said Mrs. Reid, grinning slightly, 'That's how Susan always used to have hers done. Don't worry, you'll get used to it.' Susan repeated the process with the other bunch of hair, and finished off the effect by clipping two pink plastic hair slides into my hair to secure the ribbons. As a final touch, Mum smiled and said 'Oh well, we might as well finish it off properly.' Leaning over me, she combed my hair forward in a fringe, and taking a pair of scissors, cut it across the front in a neat, even line. Straightening up, she looked at me and smiled. 'There' she said, 'I've sometimes wondered how you would look if you'd been a girl. Well now I know. Quite pretty actually.' I blushed a deep crimson as the others laughed.

After making a few adjustments to make sure that the bows were even in length, Mrs. Reid straightened them so that they were at the same angle to my head. Looking at me she grinned and said 'Perfect, now stand up.' As I stood up, she held up the maroon school blazer and I put my arms into the sleeves. She pulled it on over my shoulders and pulled the sleeves of my blouse down so that they came level with the cuffs of the blazer. Then she stood back to admire her handiwork and said 'There we are, one little girl, ready for school. You look delightful'

At that moment the front doorbell rang, and Susan said 'Oh good, that'll be Fiona and Jane. I promised them they wouldn't miss this!' She dashed downstairs, while we followed her down at a more leisurely pace. By the time we went into the lounge the girls were already in there, waiting. Like Susan, they were both wearing their school uniforms and mackintoshes in preparation for the evening's carol singing.

The moment they saw me they burst out giggling. 'Oh yes!' chuckled Fiona, 'That's absolutely priceless. Doesn't he look gorgeous!'

'He looks so cute' laughed Jane, 'Just like a little junior, especially with those sweet little bows in his hair. And with the white ankle socks and strap shoes, he looks about eight years old. Oh Sue, this is brilliant. What a perfect punishment for a boy, he must be absolutely squirming!'

'Yes, well that's the general idea' said Mrs. Reid, bringing some semblance of order into the conversation. 'Now who'd like a cup of tea before we go into town?' To a ready assent, we all went into the kitchen and sat around the table. As we drank our tea, the girls lost no opportunity to bombard me with a succession of humiliating barbs that I tried unsuccessfully to ignore, and I blushed deeply.

Tea over, it was time to be off, and as we stood up from the table Susan looked at me, smiled, and said 'Just a minute, I must take some photos. Bring him out into the garden.' Despite my protests, I was rushed out into the garden while Susan fetched her camera. Fiona and Jane held me in position while Susan took a series of pictures of me from all angles. Satisfied, she grinned and said 'There we are, that should ensure some future fun.' I was unsure quite what she meant by that, but I would before the day was out.

We went back indoors, and when we went into the hallway, Susan opened the front door and looked out at a darkening sky. 'I think we'll need our coats' she said, and took down her school mackintosh. As she put it on, she looked at me and grinned. 'Don't worry David' she said, 'We haven't forgotten you. As soon as we've bought my new coat you can wear this one. We al know how much you like wearing it, don't we!' I wasn't very impressed with that idea. Mrs. Reid and my mother both put on their coats, and as we all went to go outside I reluctantly held back, unwilling to expose myself to the ridicule of the outside world. The girls guessed what I was thinking, and Susan and Fiona immediately took a firm grip of my arms and dragged me outside with the extra assistance of Jane pushing me from behind.

Laughing at the sight, Mrs. Reid shut the door behind us and we all walked down to Mum's car. 'All right then' said Mum, 'I'll be off home.' Turning to me she said 'Now David, I want you to do exactly what Mrs. Reid tells you. I don't want to hear of any misbehaviour. Understood?' Her tone of voice told me she wasn't kidding, and I glumly said 'Yes Mum.'

'Goodbye Margaret' she said to Mrs. Reid, 'I'm sure he won't give you any trouble, and I know that you and the girls will give him a day to be remembered. I doubt that he'll risk another day like it in future.'

'Don't worry' smiled Mrs. Reid, 'I guarantee it.'

Mum got into her car, and with a little wave, she drove away, leaving me alone and at the mercy of my teenage tormentors. Looking around for Mrs. Reid's car, I said 'Aren't we driving into town?'

'Oh no' grinned Susan, 'That wouldn't do at all. We don't want you hiding away, so I asked Mum if we could go into town on the bus. We want people to see you. That's the whole idea.'

'And besides' said her mother, 'Parking's almost impossible on Saturday mornings. Come on then everyone, let's walk down to the bus stop.'

We set off with me flanked by Jane and Fiona, and Susan and her mother walking behind. It was only a five minute stroll, and as we stood waiting for the bus I felt utterly exposed to the world, dressed in my Sion school uniform and with bows in my hair. I wished that the ground could have swallowed me up. There were several other people at the bus stop, and when they saw me, two young girls looked at me and began to giggle. They knew Susan and her friends, and when they asked why I was dressed as a girl they found it hilarious when they were told why. 'Brilliant!' said one, 'What a fabulous punishment for a boy. I'd love to do it to my younger brother, he's been a real pain lately.'

'Has he now?' said Jane with a grin, 'Well after today we just might be able to arrange something. We'll talk about it next week.' I certainly didn't envy her younger brother.

The bus duly arrived, and we all climbed aboard and sat down. Susan's mother paid our fares, and in a few moments I became the centre of attention on the bus as the other passengers suddenly realised that I was a boy. A series of giggles and sniggers came from all sides, but there was nothing I could do to avoid them. Unfortunately, this was nothing compared with what was to come.

We arrived at the town centre, and stepped off the bus into the Saturday morning shopping crowds. Surrounded by crowds of people, I didn't just feel conspicuous, I knew that I was conspicuous, and a never-ending series of taunts followed me wherever we went. Susan and the girls were happy to explain the situation to anyone inquisitive enough to ask, and any sympathy the onlooker might have had for me quickly evaporated when they found out why I was being punished.

We made our way to a school outfitters, and went upstairs to the girl's school uniform department. On one of the clothes racks I could see the distinctive maroon and grey of the Sion uniforms, and a pleasant young assistant came over to help us. 'Good morning madam' she said to Mrs. Reid, 'What can I do for you?'

'I'd like a new Sion overcoat for my daughter' said Mrs. Reid, 'Susan, take off your mackintosh.' Susan removed her raincoat and laid it across the end of the counter. The assistant looked at her and said 'I'd say she's about a size 16. Here you are, try this one.' She took a coat from the rack and held it out for Susan to try on. Susan buttoned it up and looked at herself in the mirror. The A line coat looked very stylish, and I could understand why the girls so much preferred it to the juvenile and uncomfortable mackintoshes they had to wear.

The coat was an excellent fit, and Susan looked happy as she said 'Oh yes, very nice. That's fine. What do you think Mum?'

'Yes that'll do nicely' said her mother, 'That's really smart. All right' she said to the assistant, 'We'll take it thank you.'

'I think I'll keep it on' said Susan, and as the assistant snipped off the price tag, she said 'Do you want me to put your mackintosh in a bag to take home?'

'Oh no' grinned Susan, indicating me, 'This little girl here is going to wear it.' The assistant looked at me for a moment, and then a broad smile crossed her face as she realised that I was a boy. 'Oh my goodness' she laughed, 'I didn't notice. But why is he dressed in a Sion school uniform?' Susan lost no time in explaining, and the assistant chuckled as she picked up the mackintosh from the counter and held it up for me to put on. 'Here you are then' she smiled 'In you get. This is fun, I've never put one of these on a boy before! Let's see how you look.'

Meekly, I made no protest as I obediently put my arms into the sleeves. Standing in front of me, she fastened the buttons up to my neck. Then she passed the belt through the buckle, pulled it tight around my waist, and did up the securing buttonhole at the end of the belt.

I stood there examining the very juvenile style mackintosh I was now wearing. Because Susan was that much bigger than me, it was slightly too large, so the full-length hem was about eight inches below my knees, and the cuffs of the sleeves came down to halfway along my fingers. Yes, I looked like a little new girl all right. 'Now you can see why we hate wearing them' grinned Fiona, 'They look fine on little girls of about eight or ten, but by the time you are our age you feel like a total idiot wearing them. We're the laughing stock of the girls from other schools.'

'Well I must say' smiled the assistant, 'If his hair was just a little bit longer I'd take him for a Sion girl without looking twice. It's amazing what a change of clothes can do. And he has a small, girlish face that certainly helps with the deception.' Stung by being described as girlish looking, I blushed a deep crimson. Mrs. Reid paid for Susan's coat, and we went downstairs and out into the street.

The expected rain had begun to fall, and as we stood under an awning, Fiona and Jane put up their mackintosh hoods and tied them on under the chin. Looking at me, Susan smiled and said 'Now then David, I think we'd better put up your hood as well.' She pulled the hood up over my head, and then, pulling the tapes tight, she fastened them under my chin. But not in a normal bow. Having made a bow first, she started to knot the tie tapes, and pulled the knots as tight as she could. She kept tying the knots and pulling them very tight so that I would never be able to undo the tie tapes without help. When she was satisfied she stepped back, and the girls giggled as I automatically tried pulling the hood back off my head. It was impossible, tightly tied on as it was, and I had no choice but to peep out demurely from under it, now looking for all the world like a genuine little schoolgirl. 'There' grinned Susan, 'That'll keep you snug. What do you think girls?'

'Perfect' said Jane, 'He looks absolutely sweet, and he'll never get that hood off now!'

'I know' chuckled Susan, 'So he'll just have to keep it on all day, won't he? That'll teach him. OK Mum, we're ready.'

Her mother had been observing their antics with tolerant humour, and we set off to do some window-shopping. Being winter, the shops all had their heating full on, and I found that being forced to keep the hood of my mackintosh up as well as wearing a warm gym tunic and blazer on underneath, made me unbearably hot and sweaty. The girls had the luxury of unfastening their coats, so they were quite comfortable.

At last Mrs. Reid suggested that some lunch might be in order, and so we made our way into a café. As we were about to sit down, the girls removed their coats while I fumbled with the tie tapes of my hood, desperate to remove it. But it was hopeless, and looked pleadingly at Mrs. Reid I said, please can you take this mac off? I'm boiling and I can't eat like this.' She thought for a moment and said 'All right, it is a bit cruel, isn't it? Come here.' The girls frowned with disapproval as she untied the tie tapes of my hood with some difficulty and removed my mackintosh. She hung it over the back of my chair and we sat down to eat.

I was made to sit with my back to the wall, conspicuously facing into the room. At first glance we made a typically pleasant sight. A mother with four demurely dressed schoolgirls. Typical, that is, until one quickly noticed that one of the little girls was a boy. The majority of the customers were middle-aged ladies, and as they stared at me and commented to their companions, I was acutely aware that I was becoming the main topic of conversation. A lady sitting at the adjoining table turned to Mrs. Reid, and said 'Please excuse me for asking, but why is the boy dressed as a girl?' Mrs. Reid and the girls were getting used to this, so she gave the lady a short explanation.

When she had finished, the woman said 'Well, I must say that's a wonderfully appropriate way of punishing him, especially for something as serious as stealing. I used to be a primary school teacher, and I found that humiliation is far preferable to the cane for naughty boys. On a number of occasions I punished boys (with the consent of their parents) by making them come to school for an appropriate period of time dressed in the girl's uniform. In summer, a blue and white gingham dress, and in winter, a blouse and gym tunic. I can honestly say that I've never had to apply this punishment to any boy more than once!' A murmur of approval rose from the other women, and they returned to their conversations. The girls had enjoyed every moment of the conversation, and kept looking at me and grinning with delight. They were certainly getting their money's worth. At least our lunch was enjoyable as far as the food was concerned, and I devoured my fish and chips with gusto, accompanied with frequent reminders to sit up straight and eat my meal more daintily.

Our meal over, we stood up and put on our coats. This time I was allowed to put on my mackintosh myself, and since it had stopped raining, was allowed to keep my hood down. We left the café, and as I once more attracted the unwelcome attention of passers by, I realised that my mackintosh hood was a blessing in disguise. When I wore it up, I really did look like a girl, and no one gave me a second glance. So I was actually quite pleased when it started to rain again, and I could put up my hood along with Jane and Fiona. I almost began to relax, if that were possible.

Bored with window shopping we headed off to the museum, which had an excellent collection of historical costume. Utterly boring for me, but at least it was away from the crowds. We came out of the museum, and to my dismay, the girls decided to indulge in some more window shopping. At least this time I was allowed to undo my mackintosh like the others. I was almost becoming accepted as one of them, and their hostile attitude to me was beginning to fade. I think they were beginning to feel that I'd suffered enough. But not quite enough.

As the shops began to close, Mrs. Reid suggested that a cup of tea before the carol singing might be a good idea, and so we went into a coffee bar for a hot drink and a cake before the evening's activities commenced. The girls now explained to me what I was expected to do. 'All you have to do' said Susan, 'Is to stay close to us. We'll all be lined up in tiers on the old town hall steps, and we'll stand on both sides and behind you. Most of the girls will probably have their raincoat hoods up, so if you do the same, I doubt that anyone's going to spot that you're a boy. As that shop assistant said, you do have a very girlish face. Your voice hasn't broken yet, has it?'

'No' I said, beginning to regard the whole enterprise as a challenge, 'As a matter of fact, I'm an alto.'

'Perfect' said Fiona, 'You'll fit in just fine. 'Do you know the alto notes to all the usual carols?'

'Sure, we learnt them at school for our carol service.'

'Great' said Susan, 'This is going to be easy.'

Our tea over, we went outside where it was now dark, and put up our hoods as the rain returned in a strong, steady downpour. At least it gave us good reason to wear them up. We walked up the main street, and as we approached the old town hall, I could see a couple of dozen Sion girls lining up on the steps, with a nativity scene on a little cart in front of them. When we reached the steps, I was quickly merged into the tiers of girls, and stood with Susan, Jane and Fiona around me. At least I felt reasonably protected.

Hymn sheets were passed around, and the carols began. I soon realised that as everyone was facing out from the steps, including the two supervising nuns, no one was looking at me, so I began to quite enjoy the joke, especially as my alto voice mixed in quite readily. From time to time, Susan or Jane would nudge me and look at me with a grin, but it was now all in fun, and I could see the joke.

	Guess which one is me? (Actually, I'm the one furthest to the left. Didn't I look sweet!)

There was only one fly in the ointment. While we were standing there all neatly lined up in the pouring rain, a photographer from the local newspaper appeared in front of us and began taking photographs. This was something I hadn't expected, but there was no way out of it now, and I had to just go on singing. Every time his powerful flash went off I knew that yet another photo of me in this humiliating situation had been taken. My heart began to race as I wondered what would happen if one of my schoolmates spotted me in the paper. How on earth would I be able to explain that? Oh well, it was too late now, so I'd just have to hope for the best.

The carols lasted for about an hour, and as soon as we had finished, Susan rushed me over to one side to where her mother was waiting. 'That was very good' smiled Mrs.Reid, 'And David, you looked positively angelic. Come on then, we'd better be getting back.' We set off for the bus stop, and fortunately there was a bus already waiting. We climbed aboard, and I sat down between Susan and her mother without lowering my hood. Under its protection I felt safer as I realised that no one was taking any notice of me. We were soon on our way, and another half an hour found us back at the Reid's house. As soon as we were indoors, Susan's mother removed my wet mackintosh and hung it up. 'All right David' she smiled, 'I think you've paid the price of your folly. Now come on upstairs and I'll help you change. You girls stay down here. Susan, put the kettle on and we'll have a hot drink.'

She took me upstairs and removed the humiliating hair ribbons before helping me to remove the school uniform. Just as well she was there to help, as I would have had difficulty in undoing the back buttons of the gym tunic. She hung the uniform up on hangers as I dressed once more in my own clothes and I heaved a sigh of relief. 'Better?' she smiled. 'And how!' I exclaimed. 'Come along then' she said, 'Let's go downstairs.' We went down to the kitchen, where Susan had prepared a cup of hot chocolate for each of us. We sat around the table, and Susan looked at me. 'Well?' she grinned, 'How did you enjoy being a schoolgirl for the day David?'

'Enjoy?' I said, 'No way. Thank goodness I'm a boy, I'd hate to wear that stupid school uniform you have to wear five days a week. Oh no, never again thanks!'

'Never again?' she replied, 'I wouldn't bank on it completely. Remember, we've now got those lovely photos of you that we took this morning. So if we ever want some more fun at your expense, we'll be in touch. And before you think about refusing, just think what we could do with those photos. I imagine they'd look lovely in your school magazine!' I wasn't sure if she was joking or not, but unfortunately, she wasn't. We came to know each other quite well after that, and there were several occasions later on when I was taken out dressed as a girl by Susan and her friends, thanks to that threat. Oh well, I suppose I shouldn't have 'borrowed' her mackintosh in the first place, should I? When we'd drunk our chocolate, Mrs. Reid said it was time to take me home, so I said goodbye to the girls, with a promise that I'd come back to see them the following Saturday. In their turn, they promised that on that occasion I wouldn't have to dress as a girl!

Susan's mother took me out to the car, and drove me home. Mum was waiting for me, and we sat down while Mrs. Reid reported the day's events to her. When we'd finished, Mum said to me 'Well David, was that enough of a lesson for you? No more stealing?'

'You bet' I said with feeling, 'I'll never steal again!' And I was right.

 

THE END

  

  

  

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