David Goes to the Party

by Jennifer

 

'No, I'm not going, no way!' David Turner was fuming. Not going where? To a party with his little sister Emily, that's what. Emily was ten, and David was twelve, and the prospect of going to a party attended exclusively by little girls was more than he could bear the thought of. Unfortunately, David's mother Jean was not one to be disobeyed, and he knew that he was going to lose the argument before he'd even started. Sure enough, she produced one of her many trump cards.

'Now listen young man' she said, 'I am not going to have Emily come home from the party on her own, so you're going to look after her as a responsible big brother should. Do this for me and I'll see about that day trip across to France you've been pestering me about. Refuse, and you can forget about the summer scout camp on the Isle of Man. Well?' Carrot and stick. It never fails to work. After a moment's pause David shrugged his shoulders in resignation and said 'Oh all right, if I have to. What time do we have to go?'

'That's better' said his mother, while Emily broke into a smile, 'I'll drive you both over to Tanya's house at ten o' clock, since it's an all day affair. You can leave at five o'clock and catch the bus home, so you should be back by six.' The matter settled, there was no more to be said, and David and Emily settled down to watch TV.

Saturday morning dawned, and David thought what a waste of a day it was going to be when his mother insisted that he dressed properly for the occasion in his nearly best jacket and tie, with a pair of slacks and shiny polished shoes. He knew that all his mates would be going to the woods for the day, and he wished he could be with them. He was hating it already.

He sat down to breakfast as Emily came into the room, and he groaned inwardly when he saw her. Was he going to have to walk through the streets with her dressed like that? Emily obviously loved her femininity. She was wearing a pale pink party frock with smocking across the front, and a pattern of small rosebuds. The dress had a peter pan collar and short puffed sleeves. It was buttoned up the back, and the sash belt was tied in a neat bow at the back of her waist. On her feet were a pair of white cotton ankle socks and a pair of white open toed sandals. Her long hair hung down her back, and was tied back with a large bow of white hair ribbon arranged so that two long tails hung down her hair. She looked the very essence of a sweet little girl.

'Well' she said proudly, 'How do I look?' David had to admit that she did look lovely, so he begrudgingly said 'Pretty good Em, you'll be the best looker there.' Accepting that as a rare compliment from her brother, Emily sat down to breakfast, eating somewhat more daintily than usual. It seemed that her mode of dress was affecting her behaviour.

Breakfast over, the two children helped with the washing up, and it was soon time to be off. They went to the front door, and it being such a beautiful warm day, they decided that coats or jackets would be unnecessary. Their mother led the way out to the car, and they were soon on their way to Tanya Richardson's party. It took about twenty minutes to drive there, and David couldn't help but smile as his sister kept fidgeting and adjusting her dress. At last they arrived in front of a large country house and parked on the broad driveway. They got out of the car, and Emily insisted on her mother making the final adjustments to her hair. That done, she eagerly led the way up the driveway to the front door and rang the bell. A tall, beautiful woman opened the door and smiled. 'Hello Mary' said Jean to Tanya's mother. 'Oh hello Jean' she said, 'Do come in. Go straight through to the garden.' They all walked through the house and out through some French windows and out onto a patio on which some garden seats and furniture had been arranged.

David looked at the scene in front of him and groaned. It was just as he had expected. In front of him on the lawn were about a dozen girls of Emily's age, all dressed in their best party frocks, and the very picture of what he had been dreading. From time to time they would dart about with shrill squeals, while some of the younger ones were discussing the finer points of the dolls they were holding. The mothers stood around, chatting and beaming at the little girls at play, and David gulped at this prospective six hours of misery. Oh well, he'd just have to grin and bear it. Suddenly, Jean said that she had to go, so after saying goodbye to David and Emily she went back into the house to leave. David looked at the little girls with a certain amount of detached contempt, and for a moment thought philosophically how glad he was to be a boy.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Mrs. Richardson said 'Well don't you look smart David, very nice, and as for you Emily, you look like a princess. Now why don't you go and join the others?' Emily immediately ran over to a Tanya and her friends, but David preferred to remain with the adults for the moment. At least the food was close by, and he soon had a cake in one hand and a can of drink in the other. He sat down on a seat by himself, and surveyed the scene, deep in his own thoughts.

After a while, he noticed that Emily and her friends kept stealing glances at him, giggling, and then resuming some secret conversation. Gradually he realised that he had to be the subject of discussion. Eventually, Emily and Tanya came over to him, and his sister said 'Come on David, come and join us. I want you to meet my friends.' Bored with simply sitting there, David put down his half finished can and allowed the two girls to take him by the hands and lead him over to their group of friends. 'Here we are everyone' said Emily, 'This is my brother David. David' she continued, indicating each girl in turn, 'This is Fiona, Angela, Jennifer, Gillian, Susan, and this is Diana.' Knowing that he would never remember so many names in one go, David just nodded awkwardly and said hello.

After a moment's silence, Emily broke the ice and said 'I know, let's show David the lake.'

'D'you have a lake here?' said David, his interest roused. This might be a bit more interesting. 'Yeah, sure' said Tanya, 'Would you like to see it?'

'Where is it?'

'Down there, just past the bottom of the garden. Come on, we'll show you. Just a minute, I'll just let Mum know where we're going.' Tanya ran across to her mother, and came back a moment later. 'That's OK then' she said, 'Let's go.' She led the way as they set off across the lawn to a small gate in the fence. They went through the gate, and there in front of them was a large pond. It was about a hundred yards wide, surrounded by reeds and shallows, and a small boat was moored to the bank close by. The water's edge was a few yards out from the bank, and a wide strip of mud lay a couple of feet immediately below it. David had expected something a little more impressive, especially as he would have liked to go out in the boat. But he was soon to realise that the girls had something else in mind. They stood in a row looking at the pond for a while, and David idly picked up a couple of stones and threw them down onto the mud flat where they landed with a satisfying plop.

He didn't notice Tanya and Emily standing so closely behind him as he crouched down to pick up another stone. With one foot on the edge of the bank he leaned down to just under the edge to retrieve a particularly large, tempting looking missile. With his balance in such a delicate state, the two girls looked at each other, nodded in unison, and with a nudge, sent David over the edge of the bank and headlong into the black, muddy expanse. A shriek of laughter went up as he flailed around in the mud trying to stand up, which only resulted in him becoming rapidly covered in sticky mud and pondweed.

The mud was fairly shallow, and after getting his breath back, he quickly scrambled up the bank. 'Oh David I'm so sorry' said Emily with mock concern, 'I lost my balance and leaned on you. Just look at you, what's Mum going to say?' What Mum was going to say was the last thing on David's mind as he looked down at the black sticky mess covering him. He glared impotently at his sister as he realised that with so many witnesses to back her up, he would have to accept it as an accident. Tanya now intervened and took charge. 'Well David' she said, 'We'd better get you back to the house and cleaned up. Come on, you'll be all right after a hot bath. I've fallen in more than once, so it's not that bad. Mind you, I was wearing my bathers at the time.'

The children set off back up to the house, and there was a momentary stunned silence from the group of mothers as the girls hurried David up to Tanya's mother. 'Oh no!' she said, 'I knew I shouldn't have let you near that pond. David, what on earth am I going to tell your mother?'

'It wasn't his fault' said Emily, 'I lost my balance and he was sort of in the way.'

'Well never mind how it happened, let's get you cleaned up David. Come on upstairs and have a shower. Then we'll find you something to wear.' She took him by the hand and took him inside.

Up in the bathroom, she helped him out of his filthy clothes and he stepped into the shower. As the water started to run she said, 'All right, I'll go and find you some clothes. Have a thorough shower, and wash your hair. Give me a call when you've dried off.' David luxuriated under the stream of hot water, and soaped himself down, including his hair. The soap stung his eyes a bit, but soon he was as clean as a new pin. He stepped out of the shower, dried himself down with a large bath towel, and called out 'OK Mrs. Richardson, I'm ready.'

A moment later she came into the bathroom. Feel better?' she said, and could see that David was none the worse for wear. She put her hand on his head and said 'I think I'd better dry your hair. Stand over here.' Taking a hair dryer out of the bathroom cabinet, she began to brush and dry his long hair. But being used to drying Tanya's hair, she suddenly realised that she'd styled it with a centre parting, wings at the side coming round under his chin, and a fringe at the front. Perfect for a little girl, but for a boy? Oh well, she thought, never mind. Considering what she was about to tell him, maybe it was just as well.

His hair dry, David now expected to get dressed. Mary looked at him, smiled gently and said 'Come along then, you can get dressed in Tanya's room.' With the bath towel wrapped around his waist, David followed her down the passage and into Tanya's bedroom. There was no doubt about the gender of its owner. The décor was in pale pink, with a delicate floral wall paper and white bedroom furniture. It had a dresser, and several soft toys and dolls sat at the top of the bed. David inspected the room for a moment before Mary said 'Now then David, there's a small problem with what you're going to wear. You see…' she paused, 'We just don't have any boy's clothes in the house. So I'm afraid it will have to be something of Tanya's.' A cold chill went through David as he began to realise which way the conversation was heading, and he didn't like it one bit.

'So' continued Mary more briskly, 'Let's get you dressed.' For the first time, David suddenly noticed that some clothes had already been laid out on the bed. He drew in his breath in dismay as he saw what the outfit consisted of, and with a small wail of protest he said 'A dress? You want me to wear a dress? Oh please, haven't you got anything else? I don't want to be dressed as a girl.'

Taking command more confidently, Mary said 'David, I've just told you we don't have any boy's clothes. Look. There isn't a single other boy here. Right?'

'Right'

'And every one of the girls is wearing a party dress. Correct?'

'Yes?'

'So why should you be any different? You'll fit in, and I promise we won't laugh at you.'

'Promise?'

'Of course. Now put these on, and no more grumbles.'

David could see that he really didn't have a choice, and glad that she had won the battle, Mary picked up a pair of yellow silk knickers decorated with small bows of yellow ribbon from the bed and held them out for him to step into. He put his legs into them, and she pulled the knickers up. They were elasticated at the waist and legs, and gripped him firmly. Next came a white cotton vest, which she tucked into his knickers at the waist. 'Now' she said, I'll bet you haven't worn one of these before.' She picked up a white, stiffened petticoat, and he obediently stepped into it. Pulling it up, she tightened a tape around the waist to stop it coming down, and tied it in a bow behind him. David took a sidelong glance at himself in the full length mirror and thought how much like a ballerina he was beginning to look.

But now his attention was drawn to Mary, as she took down a party frock hanging on the wardrobe door. He looked at it in instinctive boyish horror at the prospect of having to wear it. It was a little girl's party frock all right. Very much in the same style as his sister Emily's, but in a delicate primrose yellow colour. She held it up for him to look at, and smiled as she put her head on one side. 'You're almost exactly the same size as Tanya, so this should fit you. Now, arms up.' Beyond protest by now, David raised his arms obediently like any little girl being dressed in her frock by her mother. Mary swiftly put his arms and head through the dress, and pulled it down around him. She did up the buttons up the back, and then tied the sash belt in a non-slip bow behind him. Standing back for a moment she said 'You look lovely David, maybe you should have been a girl after all. Now sit down and we'll put something on your feet.'

It seemed that David and Tanya also had the same size feet as well. Mary slid a pair of white ankle socks on first, and turned the tops down neatly. Then she picked up a white T bar sandal, and slipped it onto his foot. She pulled the strap through the buckle at the side, and fastened it securely. Then she followed suit with the other foot. 'Good' she said, they seem to fit you quite well. Now stand up and let's have a look at you.' David stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. A pretty little girl in a pretty little party frock looked back at him and he smiled. Something was stirring inside him that he'd never noticed before. Suddenly it seemed somehow right, and a moment of confusion crossed his mind before he found himself accepting this feminine role with increasing pleasure.

'Not bad eh?' said Mary, pleased at his acceptance of the situation, 'Honestly David, you look lovely. I'll tell you what though' she added, running a brush through his hair, 'Before we go downstairs, why don't I complete the picture with a couple of hair ribbons?' This was the acid test and she knew it. She was relieved at the reply. 'Hair ribbons? In my hair? Oh yes, let's try it!' Mary knew she'd won. 'All right then dear' she said, come and sit down over at the dressing table and we'll see if we can make you as pretty as the others.'

David sat down at the dresser, and watched as Mary took a roll of white silk hair ribbon and carefully cut two lengths. Then she took a couple of elastic bands and two yellow plastic hair slides and set them down in front of him. 'Now' she said thoughtfully, 'I think a pair of bunches would look rather sweet, wouldn't you?' Carefully brushing his hair into two bunches, she took one of them, and began to wind an elastic band around it several times. Then she pushed it down to the base of the bunch so that it was close to his head. Then she followed suit with the other one. She picked up one of the lengths of hair ribbon and wound it tightly round the base of one of the bunches before tying it in a neat, non slip bow. The other one was next, and soon David looked in the mirror at a very convincing little girl. Suddenly he realised that here was a part of him which had always been there. It just hadn't had a chance to express itself, that's all. He beamed at the transformation.

Mary smiled at his reaction. As a primary school teacher, it wasn't the first time she'd known boys find their inner, feminine side, and she was pleased to be with David at his moment of discovery. 'All right then' she said, 'I'll just put in your hair slides and then we'll go downstairs.' She picked up one of the hair slides, slid it into position next to one of the bunches, and with a slight click, closed it. Then she fitted the other one into position and checked that the bunches, bows and hair slides were even. They were perfect.

'There we are' she said, putting her hands on his shoulders and smiling at him in the mirror, 'One little girl ready for the party. Now stand up and let's have a look at you.' David got up from the dresser, and walked across to the mirror. Mary showed him how to stand demurely with his feet together and with his hands either at his side, or clasped gently together in front of him. She was well pleased with his appearance, and then said 'You know, dressed like that, we can't really call you David, you need a girl's name, don't you? David didn't have a clue of course, but Mary soon smiled and said 'I know, how about Lucy? It's such a pretty, little girl sort of name.' It certainly went well with his appearance, and David said enthusiastically 'Oh yes! Lucy, I love it!'

'Well that's settled then' smiled Mary. 'Now come along downstairs. I can't wait to see what the girls think.' She took the new Lucy's hand and led her gently downstairs and out into the garden. As soon as the girls saw them, they burst into a fit of the giggles before Mary brought them up short. 'Now now girls, that's enough of that. As far as you are all concerned this is Lucy. She's one of you, and I want you to treat her as such. Otherwise, Emily, I might just have to enquire further as to just how David fell in the mud. Do I make myself clear?' Emily's worried expression told her that she had made herself clear.

Emily walked up to Lucy and grinned. 'Well' she said, 'Looks like I've got a sister for the rest of the day, doesn't it? Now what was your name, Lucy? How sweet. Well come on Lucy, come and join in the fun.' And Lucy did. Throwing herself into her new role, she had a wonderful time learning all the nuances of being a girl, and the others were only all too happy to teach her. Her feminine personality came to the fore, and with the assistance of her appearance, it was easy to accept her as a girl.

But all good things must come to an end, and as five o'clock approached, Lucy felt like Cinderella at the ball as midnight approached. Finally, Emily said, 'Come on Lucy, it's time to go home.' Mary heard this and said 'Isn't your mother coming to pick you up?'

'No' said Emily, 'She said we could go home on the bus.' Mary looked at Lucy and smiled slightly. 'Well I don't think two little girls in their party frocks should go home on the bus. Come on, I'll drive you home. I'll just go and get your bag of muddy clothes. Besides, I think your mother deserves an explanation.' She went to retrieve the bag, and after Emily and Lucy had said their goodbyes, she led them out to the car.

Their mother was in when they got home, and as she opened the door to let them in, she took one look at Lucy, burst out laughing and said in mock puzzlement 'Who on earth is this? A little girl? What happened to David?' And she burst out laughing again. They all sat down in the lounge while Mary explained what had happened. After a while, Jean said 'All right David, that's enough fun for today. Go upstairs, get changed, and then bring those girl's clothes down again. I'm sure Tanya will want them back.'

The two children went upstairs, and Mary took the opportunity of telling David's mother of how she had discovered that he had a feminine inner self yearning to express itself. Jean listened carefully, and said that she'd always suspected that this was the case. David had always empathised with his sister ever since she was a baby, and had always preferred the happy, gentle company of Emily and her friends to the rough and tumble of his mates. Although he'd always displayed the outer characteristics of a tree climbing tousled little boy, his mother had always suspected that it was an artificial veneer to his true self. What had confirmed her suspicions was that on more than one occasion she'd come home and found him wearing one of his sister's dresses. When asked why, he'd just said he was 'dressing up', but because of the number of times it had happened, she knew there was more to it than that.

Their conversation came to an abrupt end when the children came downstairs again, but Jean promised Mary that she would have a gentle heart to heart talk with David to get at the truth. A little later, when Mary had left and Emily had gone to bed, Jean sat down with her son, and with gentle and understanding probing she at last persuaded him to come out with his true feelings. She was saddened by how much unhappiness he must have suffered in his short life so far, but all that was about to end.

Jean was a very gentle and understanding woman, and was much too enlightened than to try and suppress David's feelings. On the contrary she was fully supportive. Fortunately, Emily had inherited her mother's caring nature, and although a little confused at first, soon got used to living with David when he had to go to school, and Lucy when she was at home. Fortunately, young children are very adaptable. The three of them took genuine pleasure in gradually replacing David's wardrobe with a lovely array of dresses, frocks and frilly feminine clothes that every little girl revels in. His hair was allowed to grow to a length quite suitable for a girl, but not so long as to prompt his headmaster to order a haircut. It was of borderline length, but certainly long enough to be fastened with the hair ribbons he so loved.

David gradually lost touch with his male friends, and with the approval and help of Jean and Emily, he became more and more acquainted with the wonderful world of a little girl. He began to mix exclusively with Emily's friends, and joined in their activities with happy enthusiasm. Fortunately, their mothers were very understanding of the situation, and David was allowed to play with their daughters as just another little girl. With her emerging feminine self gradually being allowed to supercede her male past, Lucy was a much luckier little girl than many other ostensible boys in her position.

Thanks to an understanding family and friends, David's path into and beyond puberty to becoming Lucy as a full-grown woman was a smooth one. And by the time she was an attractive twenty five year old blond she would often think back with a smile of that day long before when she first got her name.

 

THE END

   

   

    

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