Girlie Summer Vacation

by KaraLynn

 

My grandmother was a very famous fashion buyer and had a great influence on what children and teens all across the country would be wearing throughout the year. My mother and her sister Jenny, as children, were often asked by my grandmother to model the clothes and accessories that different fashion suppliers and department stores would be displaying and selling to their customers. Besides the general fashion lines, my grandmother was also a distributor for all types of clothing for flower girls, pageants and other fancy occasions.

My mom and aunt had scrapbooks of their pictures when they modeled. After college, both of the girls got married. My Aunt Jenny settled down to raise her three daughters Ashley, Jessica and Kourtney. My mom followed her mom into the fashion business and soon became a consultant to a nationwide distribution company. Oh yes, she also took time to raise me her only son.

As a youngster I also was called on, at times, to model some of the clothes in her line of young mens' suits and play clothes. I had several suits and, in fact, was the only kid on my block with a tuxedo.

For the female side, my mom often hired professional models to be photographed for advertisements and catalogs. Sometimes she would audition girls to be models for fashion shows and other presentations. My three girl cousins were used on occasion. Our home was filled with racks of girl's clothes that mom would bring as samples around to other buyers and department store managers. Our extra bedroom was always full of the latest girl fashions.

One special day I clearly remember. Mom received a call to make a presentation the very next day to a new client. If she sold this client, her company would be in line to make a lot of money and widen her area of distribution. This client always asked for live models and did not want to look at clothes hanging from a rack pictures in a magazine or on a computer screen. She needed to see how clothes fit and were worn. My mom tried all her sources but just couldn't get a model on such short notice.

She then turned to me and said "I know this is unusual but I need you to model for me."

Well, as you know, I had done some modeling for her so I was about to say yes before she stopped me. "Now I really need your help but I will leave the decision up to you. Don't worry if you say no. I will understand. Here it is, I need you to model girl's clothes. I promise I will really fix you up nicely and no one will know you are not a girl."

This change startled me and I hesitated for a few moments but my first thought was that yes I would help.

We walked into the spare room and she started to fill several garment bags with all types of dresses, skirts and other outfits. She also packed a large bag with shoes, socks and other accessories.

"Thanks for helping out on such short notice. I'll have a special treat for you when we're all done. We'll take that vacation weekend that you asked about."

"For now though I need you to change into these girls clothes. We must arrive at the office with you already dressed as a girl. You'll need to put on girls underwear because some of the outfits really need them. Put on this top and skirt and these socks and shoes."

I changed into what she gave me and then came back into her room. She sat me in front of her mirror and went to work on my hair. It was a little bit long and with some combing and brushing and a few barrettes she fixed it into a cute girl's style.

She put just a touch of blush on my cheeks and a tiny bit of mascara on my lashes. She handed me a clear lip gloss and showed me how to put it on. I did look rather cute.

When we got to the office building, we met with the woman and then moved into a large conference room. Off to the side was a smaller room that would be used for changing. I put on several outfits, one at a time, and walked passed three other women as my mom discussed the clothes that I was wearing and the women were all taking notes. It did feel strange but the more times I changed the easier it was for me.

My mom made a big sale that day so I guess I was convincing. They did take some pictures of me as I modeled but these would be used in house and would not be released without approval. My mom gave me a big hug and thanked me as I changed back into the clothes I wore from home. The next weekend we went away to the Water Park.

Although she never said it, I think mom liked dressing me up as her daughter. Over the next several weeks, I often found a fancy dress or skirt hanging in my closet and some girlie undies or accessories in my dresser drawer. At first, I brought this to her attention, but she just said," Oh, I just need some extra space to hang up a few things. Don't worry I'll take them out when I need them". I must admit we both knew what she was thinking and I did try on some of the clothes when I was by myself. They always fit perfectly.

A month or two later, mom said she needed to take some photographs to send out as a rush portfolio to an East coast buyer and couldn't get in touch with her usual models and asked if I could help again. The models she used were usually contracted and a fee was paid to them. Mom said that part of this fee could be used for my college fund and the other part be put to use however I wanted.

I agreed and she kept several copies of photos for my own album that I kept under my bed. Only she and I knew about the photos.

This went off and on for about a year or two. I got to be pretty good as a model and she coached me at times in my walk and talk. Once in a while she would just ask me to try something on so that she could see what it looked like. One weekend she decided I should have my own pageant. I modeled some pageant dresses and other outfits just for us. She had me walk up and down the hall just like it was a runway and had me stop and turn along the way. After I put on the last dress, she handed me flowers and put a tiara crown on my head. She called me Little Miss Callie Sue Martin. My name was Carry Simon Martin, but she called me Callie whenever I became her little girl. I didn't mind much either. It helped me to play my character as a little girl.

For the last few years, my modeling assignments were somewhat limited, but I would still find some of the latest girls fashions hanging in my closet from time to time. More times than not, I had to try them on.

Each summer my mom had to travel east for three weeks to make contacts and set up fall and winter distributions with her larger clients and manufacturer's representatives. During the last two summers, I went away to camp during those three weeks.

"I'm sorry about this, but you know how the camp registration fills up very fast? It seems that your application missed the deadline. How about if you spend the three weeks at your Aunt Jenny's and your three cousins? You probably don't remember, but when you were two and three, we spent several weeks there those two summers."

I didn't often see my cousins, but the fact that they were girls didn't bother me. We always seemed to get along pretty well and I had a lot of fun with them so I agreed to go spend the three weeks there.

"Thanks, for being such a good sport. Now for another bit of news that may be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Since business has been so good, I've scheduled a trip to the west coast for the last three weeks of summer. I did get you registered for camp for those weeks, but if you decide, you have the option of returning to your cousins."

"Well, I'd have to wait and see how the first stay goes before making any decisions." I said.

"That's fair enough and thanks again."

Time passed quickly and soon school was out and I was packing for Aunt Jenny's. On the Monday my Mom was to leave for the coast, Aunt Jenny and the girls arrived in their SUV. I left the open suitcase on the bed and rushed down to meet them.

After they came in, my mom and her sister sat and had coffee in the kitchen. The girls and I went into the living room where we looked through my CDs. Ashley got on the computer to check her email. I brought them some sodas and chips.

I had to go back up to my room and Jessica came with me. I took some things out of my drawer and put them into the opened suitcase on the bed and grabbed a few shirts from the closet and dresser. I wondered if Jess noticed the girl's clothes in the drawer and closet ? If she did, she didn't say anything. I closed the suitcase and I brought it downstairs. Jessica came down a few minutes later.

I carried my stuff out to their car and noticed my mom and aunt talking on the front stairs. Jessica had something in her hands that she was showing to Ashley and Kourtney and quickly put it into a bag and came out to the car.

Mom came down the steps and handed several garment bags to my aunt. I assumed that they contained some clothes for my cousins. She hugged me, we said our good byes and we were off.

After we arrived at their house, I brought in my bags and they helped me settle into a spare room on the second floor. There was a small desk and dresser and a single bed with plain sheets, pillow cases and a green blanket. It would be fine for me. I rested for a while and got up when I was called to dinner.

After dinner we went into the family room to watch a movie on their big screen TV. During a break in the movie, my Aunt called me aside and said she wanted to talk with me. The girls all had silly smiles on their faces for some reason.

"Carry, do you recognize this?" She held up a photo album. Yes, I did recognize it. It was my dressup/modeling album.

I'm sorry, but Jessica picked it up from your room and brought it with her. She showed it to her sisters also while you were resting."

"Now, I knew that you had been helping your mom for some time and I always thought it was so sweet that you were so helpful. I know she really appreciates it. Until this time the girls didn't know anything."

"Well I've talked with them and told them that it is wrong to take anything that doesn't belong to you and that it is important to respect each other's privacy. Now what I propose is entirely up to you and you have the final say. The girls all agreed to follow what ever decision you make and if you want, they will never discuss the dressing up again."

"Now, there is one more option they have offered. If you agree, they would like to make you an honorary girl and they have made some plans to spend some girl time with you."

As I said earlier, we all did get along great and I had a lot of fun with them. I have to admit there were a few times I wanted to see what it might be like to be a full time girl and since I would be here away from other people that I knew, I agreed to try it.

My aunt smiled and we walked back into the family room.

"Girls, this is Callie Sue. She'll be staying with us for the next three weeks."

They were all shouting and screaming and all were hugging and kissing me on the cheek. They grabbed me by my arms and we soon were headed back upstairs.

"We are sorry that we took your album but we're glad you have decided to accept our offer. This is going to be so much fun" said Kourtney.

"You know you've played dressup with us before. ", said Jessica. She took out a set of pictures that were of four young girls in various party dresses and costumes.

"Now we have solved the puzzle of the fourth girl in these pictures taken many years ago. It was really you." said Ashley.

The girls decided that they wanted to get started right away. They left me in my room for a while then they all returned. All of the girls had school uniforms on. They brought some clothes for me to wear and I put them on.

I was wearing a pleated khaki skirt that I pulled up to my waist. The hem was about three inches above my knees. I had on a white pullover polo with a school's logo on the pocket. It was short sleeved but they rolled the sleeves up to my shoulders. I tried to tuck the shirt in, but they said to let it hang out. On one wrist, I was wearing a silver girl's watch they had given me. On the other wrist I had a single thin leather bracelet. They brushed my hair so that it was parted on my right side.

We came down the stairs. They had me walk through the living room into the dining room. As I passed through the doorway, someone snapped my picture. I then walked over to a chair near the dining room table. They had me sit and they were going to work on my hair. It was too short they said. They soon had placed a brown long haired wig on my head.

"Let's tie it back into a single ponytail and put this khaki scrunchie around it.", said Kourtney. Ashley said, "I think she'll look cuter with two ponytails." They untied the one and made two bunches on the sides and put small pink ribbons on the ends.

I was barefoot all this time. They told me to put on a pair of white ankle socks.

"I'll go upstairs and try to find you some shoes." She brought down a brown pair of Mary Janes.

They then told me to sit on the carpeted floor. They posed me with my hands on my skirt and then with my knees bent. I moved into the family room and sat down on a couch with a wooden frame. I had a clear small purse filled with some girlie stuff like makeup and hair ties. I also had a large canvas tote bag that I put down next to me. "Here's a CD player and some headphones."

They had me try the two uniform tests. I had to raise both my arms and the skirt stayed tucked in. "You passed the first test. We can't let your midriff show."

Then they had me kneel down and with a ruler and they measured the distance from the floor to the bottom of the front of my skirt." It's at least three inches. You've passed this one also. "Jessica noted.

"Let's have you sit with one leg under the other", said Ashley. I took off my brown double strapped Mary Janes. "We'll get you a pair of gray knee high socks later or maybe you'd like a pair of black lace top thigh highs", Jessica giggled.

They had me take off my shirt .They gave me a white polo type shirt with short sleeves and a collar but first underneath this I had a simple white camisole over a slightly padded teen bra. I then put a short-sleeved cardigan sweater vest over this.

I went back to the couch and as I put one leg under the other my dark green and black plaid skirt slid up to my thighs

.

"See it is not that easy being a girl in a skirt. Today we'll give you a lesson. First of all, think about it. We girls know what you guys are always trying to do; get a peek under the skirt. We're smart enough to know that and we are not going to show you our girly frilly undies. Let's be practical also. For the most part, it's more comfortable and easier to wear cotton boxers underneath. "

The girls flipped up their skirts to show me a glimpse. There was a lime green pair of boxers with yellow stars, a pair of blue gym shorts, and a black pair of boxers with red hearts. "We do add some color and designs for variety. Some girls will always wear basic black bike shorts, but like our friend, Marci, always have a lacy pair of panties that are high cut."

There was another uniform change. "This was a uniform we all wore when we were younger." Ashley said. They handed me a white blouse with short sleeves and a peter pan collar. Next they gave me a Navy blue jumper that said FrenchToast, Official School Wear on the label. I stepped into the skirt and then put my head and arms through the opening. The girls helped slip it down over my shoulders, adjusted the elastic on the back of the waist, and fixed the collar of the blouse. They showed me how to zip up the side and then fasten the single button. To finish up, they had me put on a pair of white knee highs and black leather shoes. As I swayed back and forth, the pleats on the skirt followed along.

"Wow, you look like the perfect school girl."

Now they had me change into the official school uniform. Their uniform consisted of a gray skirt with a center front pleat and a half elasticized waist that made for a snug fit. The bottom of the skirt fell just above my knees. The top was a ribbed turtleneck.

"Most girls wear tights or knee highs. You probably never wore tights or pantyhose before so well have to give you some tips for getting into them. ", Jessica advised.

"Every girl develops her own technique and rituals for putting them on and we'll share our tips with you. One thing we learned is that you can improve the comfort, fit and durability of a pair of hose if you're very careful in putting them on and taking them off. You can buy cheap tights or pantyhose but to be elegant you need to spend some money on a fine pair or two. The feeling of the nylon or Lycra as it wraps around your legs and clings to your skin is unlike any other feeling you'll experience

.

I recommend that you remove all rings and bracelets and put on a pair of cotton or nylon gloves to prevent snags and pulls. Now using your index finger and thumb, gather up the leg to the toe area and be sure the toe seam is horizontally stretched. Gently place your toes in and pull the hose over your heel without any twisting. Pull but don't overstretch the hose up your calf to your knees. Now gather up the hose on your second leg and repeat pulling it up to your knees.

Now alternately move it up your thighs and then proceed to pull it over your hips and up to your waist. Now here is the part that sets it. For a most comfortable fit, starting from the toes and moving up, grasp the stockings gently with your palms and position the hose around your legs up to your waist."

"At this point you should really know the great feeling of the effects of nylon and Lycra covering your bare skin. It really helps complete any of your outfits and adds a touch of class.", said Ash.

They had fun getting me into and out of navy blue and white tights and finally decided on the navy. I wore a pair of black flats. Not much jewelry is allowed under the dress code, so they put in one clip on earring in each lobe at the traditional positions and they gave me a cute watch for my wrist and one ring to wear on my hand.

"This is pretty close to what we wear to school every day. The administration told us the uniform helps us to keep the focus on who we are and how we act and not just how we look. It is true with a required uniform you'll have fewer laundry loads, more minutes of sleep and you can forget about spending time trying to decide what clothes will match your outfits. There is also a sense of unity and school spirit when we are all dressed alike."

"Do you remember the last day of school? Let's tell him all about it. It might be fun if we reenacted those fun events one of the next few days with him, or should I say her?" asked Jessica.

"For several years there is a tradition for the older girls to wear their swimsuits under their uniforms on the last day of school. When the final bell rings most of them rush out to their cars and either head straight toward their pools or down to the beach.

The tradition was to jump into the water wearing your uniforms and then take the uniforms off because you were already in your suits."

"Two years ago, one of the Sisters spotted some of the girls removing their uniforms and stripping down to their bikinis on the way to the parking lot and then driving away. This was not viewed as proper behavior for this girl's school. They didn't ban swimsuits under the uniform the next year, but the rule became that you had to wear a full layer of proper underwear under your skirt and blouse. This year, Nora was seen in the parking lot with her cotton camisole and her hipster drawstring shorts were hanging low and the bottom of her bikini was definitely in view. She quickly put them back on and the drove away. I guess none of the good Sister's saw this, but maybe they'll have some new rules for next Spring." answered Kourtney.

Later I changed out of the school clothes and into a pair of low-rise hip hugger jeans. The girls commented that they were cute but would probably fit me better if I had some hips. I had on a white top that had loose shoulders that dropped down over my arms. Once in a while, my straps were showing. "We can take care of that with a bra with clear straps or maybe try the strapless look or possibly a tube type bra. See there are many decisions for a girl."

I had on a pink baseball cap and they tied my hair into a ponytail and fastened it with a matching pink scrunchie. They pulled the ponytail through the back of the hat. My nails were short but they helped me put on dark maroon polish. "We can glue on some nails while were waiting for your real nails to grow, Sometimes the girls in sports have to keep their nails short during the season."

They put a little mascara on my upper and lower lashes. They handed me a pot of lip gloss. They laughed as they watched me dipped my hands into the pot and tried to apply the gloss without a mirror.

 

Later on in the week, the girls decided to play dressup.

"We have chosen for you, the princess look. This will help you find your little girl self. Girls can be strong and compete at every level. They can be in control and self assured, but there is also a side where you can be very special and use your imagination to play. There are many princess and girlie looks we'll try. The first is a midriff dance costume with pink and black feather boas and matching glamour sunglasses."

Next they handed me a beautiful crinoline full petticoat. It had wide soft satin straps that were adjusted by plastic slides. The nylon bodice was embroidered in lace and had a V shaped neckline with a small rose attached to it. The puckered stretch sides made for a better fit. The skirt had two layers of nylon and the second layer had a lace trim. They then put a very pink little girl type dress over this. White anklets and white shoes completed the look.

They told me that they ran a princess little girl party for a sorority last year. The sorority used it as an initiation. Each of the pledges were dressed as sweet girls and had to play the part for an entire day. They played dress up, sang songs, and played many girls games. They also had a sleepover while still in their little girl characters. There were plenty of Disney princesses and a lot of Barbie looks.

"Some of the pledges were dressed in oversized prom dresses. They looked like little sisters playing in their big sisters clothes. We are going to let you do that now." said Ashley.

They took out a pink and yellow short ball gown. Woven through the dropped waist bodice were see through pink and yellow butterflies and a pink ribbon. The short skirt was pink lace over a taffeta lining. Underneath were layers of black and pink crinoline and tulle. On my hands, they put dainty pink wrist gloves. A necklace of 2 strands of pink pearls was placed around my neck. On my feet they put on a pair of two inch heels that tied with fuschia ribbons. They told me I was ready for the prom. It was a great feeling but I was also shy and embarrassed and liked to be anywhere else.

 

One last dressup was for a pretend dance class. First I tugged on a pair of shimmery white footed tights. Then I put on a pink sequined tank leotard with a panne velvet bodice and lace trim. The leotard was cotton and spandex. The cotton was for breathabilty and the spandex was for shape. They then laced on a pair of ballet slippers on my feet

Besides the clothes, our dressup parties included pedicures and manicures and a chance to mix our own shampoos, perfumes and body gels. We also watched three videos, Ella Enchanted, The Cinderella Story and Princess Bride II

The next week we tried on some combination outfits. The girls would bring me outfits and they themselves would also be trying on clothes.

"Here is a brightly colored peasant blouse with a lot of extra details of ribbons and embroidery. Let's match it with some cuffed gray cargo pants with a drawstring waist. We'll use this scarf to tie at the waist and let it drape down one leg. Now try on several of these miniskirts. ", said Kourtney. The girls commented on how skirts were getting shorter every year.

I was a little frightened when they said to come on into the other room because it's time we did something with your makeup and hair. They shampooed and rinsed my hair.

"If it was longer we would try for some curly waves and work in some styling mousse and some holding spray. We might try some extensions or maybe a wig for now."

Ashley's room was typical of what a girl's room would look like. Makeup, hair brushes and combs, a can of hair spray and a small hairdryer were all on top of the dresser. Also on the dresser was a small lighted mirror. I noticed a picture within a frame of two girls in fancy gowns, probably from some fancy dance or party. There were also several snapshots placed around a large mirror. The short mini I had on reached mid thigh. The cami they had me wear had a built in bra and it was worn under a short sleeved tee.

"Let's try on this wig with a headband and brush your hair coming down over both shoulders. ", said Jess. When she dropped the brush, I had to bend over to pick it up. I really knew how short that skirt was.

Next, they had me change into a pink tank top from Old Navy with a matching pink jacket. Then they had me try a ruffled plaid mini skirt from Alloy.

One of the girls handed me a dark red slip dress from WetSeal. "Before we put this on, we have something we would like you to try on. ", said Ashley.

She brought out a bra with shiny satin cups. She said it was padded and underwired.

I had no idea what that meant, but at this point I was willing to try anything they asked.

They slipped it on me and adjusted the straps and two closures on the back. Looking down I could see the cups separating and shaping. The dress went over this. Now as I looked down, I could actually see two small bumps. The girls all sighed and smiled over this result. I probably turned as red in the face as the dress from embarrassment.

"Eventually you'll be able to choose your own style that will make you feel comfortable, but for now we'll help you a lot. These small hoop clip-on earnings and matching necklace will look good with that dress." said Ashley.

Now they got out the makeup. "Sometimes makeup can be very simple. We often use Johnson's Baby powder as a base of loose powder. Instead of fancy lip glosses and lipsticks we can use Vaseline or Chapstick".

"Let's clean your face with a moisturizing toner from Nivea." This was followed by a light foundation from Max Factor and some Sephora powder cheek blush.

"Did you know you have really expressive eyes? This volume enchanting black Mascara from L'Oreal will really pump up your lashes but first I'll use this Maybelline eyelash curler on you lashes. Let's try some shadow on your lids and a dark eye liner from Almay to complete the look."

They went to work with various types of makeup. They tried glosses and lipsticks. I thought the strawberry kiwi flavored Lipsmackers was my favorite. They had me blot my lips after they applied lipstick. I threw the tissues into a small wastebasket sitting in a corner. The girls then tried a more subtle look with a neutral lipliner and a minor stain of warm beige lipgloss. On my nails, they put clear polish but put a bit of white on the tips. "We'll also try some dark red polish and paint your toes later."

They then had me pose. First I put my hands on my hips. First one hand then both.

One of the girls had an idea. "We just got through with a play in which all the girls had a scene in the waiting room of the orthodontist's office. Everyone there had braces. For those girls that did not have or already had their braces off, we had some temporary sets that were donated by one of the girl's dental hygienist mom. Let's try one of the extra sets on you. Yes, that metal grin will definitely put you in good company with a lot of the younger girls. " For another look, they tried on some black framed glasses that they said would be perfect for school.

Once a week we went to the mall. The first time we all stopped by a special store. I remember standing outside this place with groups other males. We would never go inside. After school it seemed like there would be a million girls inside the store wearing their uniforms with short skirts. Now I was about to go in.

"Be ready for your introduction to the girly girls version of heaven, Claire's. It is impossible for a girl to stop at Claire's and not find something that she likes. The prices are reasonable and there is always a sale. For little girls it is a very pink and fluffy place. For teens, it is a place for things for the hair, makeup, purses, and all types of fantastic jewelry. Even older women find this place irresistible. Say, here's our Mom. I told her to meet us here."

Just then 2 pretty smiling sales assistants came up to us and gave us all small baskets as we entered the store.

"Check out items where if you buy 2, you get the third one free. Also check the 10 for $10 rack." said a clerk. The store itself seemed pretty and it was packed with lots of girly things.

We first stopped at the hair accessories. They have scrunchies, clips, headbands, bandanas, tiaras and hair extensions. I didn't know at the time what a lot of these were but I was learning. "Look, they have some temporary hair colors." said Kourtney.

They picked a floral fabric headband for me in pink, purple and beige.

Next was the purses and bags section. There were handbags, shoulder bags and school bags in various fabrics and denims with all kinds of designs including characters from TV and movies.

"This is for you." It was a pink canvas purse with a grosgrain ribbon handle with a zipper enclosure for an inside pocket. I had seen girls with this type of purse before and I was always amazed at how much that could fit inside such a small bag.

We looked at the makeup section. The girls said the makeup and nail polishes are overpriced and they usually bought their makeup elsewhere. For me they picked some crystal clear Claire's lipgloss with an applicator and mirror.

One of the biggest sections was the jewelry. There were necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. There seemed to be two types. One was the girly section where every thing seemed silvery and sparkly with hearts, butterflies and flowers. The other type they called goth. It seemed all black with skulls, crosses, spikes and chokers.

After a lot of looking, they picked a butterfly necklace with matching bracelet and anklet for me. I guess they don't think of me as a goth.

"As a special treat we're going to have your ears pierced. I saw a really cute crystal butterfly that would go great with a pierced navel but maybe save that for next time. " , said Ashley.

We walked over to the jewelry section and they picked out a pair of 24 ct white gold studs. They looked very small. My aunt called over to the two sales girls and talked with them for a minute. She went over to the counter and filled out a form and the came back over to us.

"I needed to sign a consent form to get your ears pierced. These two girls will perform the piercing. They have been trained and have done many of them. They talk you through the process and explain everything and tell you about how to take care afterwards." said my Aunt Jenny.

"Hi, don't worry, we'll have you out of here in no time." said the salesgirl. We went over to chair that was near the window. I guess this was so other people could watch. They both put on gloves.

"We'll first clean the surface of the ear with a disinfectant/antiseptic wipe and then we'll mark the location on your ear lobes and hand you a mirror to give you a chance to see.

We never use needles. We use what we call a pre-sterilized piercing instrument. We apply just the right amount of pressure and you should only feel a minimum discomfort on your earlobes."

One of the girls was on either side. They counted down one, two, three and I hear a sort of a clicking sound and then two seconds later they said they were finished.

They explained to me what to do during the healing process. "Don't remove them. Clean the front and back of your ears with Claire's ear care antiseptic solution that we will give you. Gently rotate the studs like you would wind a watch two or three times a day for about 6 weeks. Take care when removing your clothing, brushing your hair or talking on the phone so that the ears don't get irritated. We'll give you these written instructions and also an after care calendar that you can use to check off daily when you do the cleaning and rotating".

We thanked them and then went back to the earrings and hoops. My cousins bought me a pair of white glass faux pearl stud earrings to wear in 6 weeks. We then all went to the food court for ice cream before returning home.

Ashley had just come back from cheer camp yesterday. "A lot of girls really enjoy cheering so we thought we would show you what it's like to dress the part. Being a real cheerleader is hard work and takes a lot of talent, but we can easily dress you up to look like one" Ashley explained. She told us that the theme of the camp was the Spirit, Showmanship and Style. She mentioned a lot of time was spent learning cheers, dance choreography and gymnastic movements

"We talked a lot about doing your best and how to perform at your highest levels whether for competitions, shows or even in parades. We also had a lot of fun in our dorms after the daily practices. I spent most of my downtime with Brittany, Holly and Leigh."

We were in Ashley's room. I looked around this typical teenage girl's room. Part of the floor was covered with girl's clothes. There were books, makeup, CDs everywhere. The walls of the room were painted bright tropical blue. The bedspreads, sheets and the window coverings were all coordinated in teal blue and lime green. The bed frame itself was made of antique iron. It was on the longest wall across from the door. There was a simple canopy of white satin that framed the bed and several pink feathered boas were wrapped around the frame.

Several wall shelves held some cute stuffed animals and a few trophies and ribbons won from cheerleading and other sports .There were some large storage cabinets on one of the walls and the doors of a crowded closet filled with girly things were slightly opened. There was a small bedside table and lamp nearby. Posters covered one wall and a chair and desk with a computer and monitor on it was in one corner.

"Here is your first outfit to change into."

They left the room and I walked over to the pile of clothes they had left on the bed. After taking off the stuff I had on, I stepped into what I would be putting on under the uniform, a pair of Danskin 100% nylon navy cheerleading briefs. Next I put on a Danskin long sleeved midriff turtle neck tee with long sleeves. The cheer skirt was red with blue and white stripes on the bottom with a small LTD2 patch on it near the hem. I pulled on the matching striped red vest over the turtleneck top. I found a pair of white ankle length cheer socks and a pair of cheer shoes to put on. The girls came back in and after a few adjustments, they smiled at the new cheerleader. "This outfit will be great when you're practicing your cheers in your room or when you're getting ready for tryouts. "

"Let's get you into a practice outfit."

They had me take off the uniform and left another set of practice clothes. I put on a pair of purple cotton panties with a very girly lavender and turquoise flower pattern on them and a matching camisole with adjustable spaghetti straps. There was a pair of dark peach colored cotton shorts with LTD Cheer embroidered on the front and the word CHEER across the butt. A simple white sleeveless tee with the words cheerleading rules went over my camisole. I wore the same shoes and socks.

When the girls returned they had a couple of wigs on wig stands. "Your hair is still too short to do much with now, we know you're going to let it keep growing, but for now let's give you the feel of long beautiful hair." They put some kind of a wig cap on my head then took the blond wig and fit it on me.

"We'll give you a high ponytail and tie this white ribbon into your hair. Notice how the ends of the ribbons hang down your back. Let's have you put on this crop top racer back sports bra, this jeans skirt over your shorts and change into these sandals without any socks." said Jessica.

"Two more items to finish off your new look." They handed me a pink sun visor with the word CHEER and a megaphone embroidered on it with a few stars printed on the visor. They helped me put the ponytail through the back and adjusted the Velcro fastener to make it fit right. Finally they handed me a small hot pink purse with Lizzie McGuire written on it in sparkles.

The other bedroom was shared by Kourtney and Jessica. Two twin beds were pushed into an L shape in the corner against the walls. With a lot of cushions on them it reminded me of a sectional couch. The girls told me they did use it as a couch when other girls came over to hang out. Under the beds were wire storage baskets. On the floor was a striped throw rug. There was an ottoman that opened up as storage and it could also be used as a small table or an extra seat. There was a neatly organized magazine rack on the wall. The book shelves actually had some books on them. I saw a World History and an Algebra book. There was a desk with shelving above it. The desk had some mini storage bins for nail polish, makeup and jewelry. The shelves had some framed photographs on them and several stacks of CDs. The opposite wall had a set of white double doors that opened up to a closet with racks for clothes and shoes. There was a floor lamp and a matching table lamp.

I picked up a Teen magazine from the rack that had a picture of Mary-Kate and Ashley on the cover. One of the girls noticed this and said "Hey, let's see if we can put on an Olson twins fashion show. Let's check our closets and see how many different looks we can come up with using clothes from their official fashion line."

When they returned these were some of the items they collected. First there was a pair of low rise cotton hipster panties in red with a matching lace camisole that had wide straps. There was a long sleeved top with lettuce edges and slightly puffy shoulders that was lined at the chest and back. Next was a pull on denim skooter skirt with a stretch waist and back pockets. "Skooters have the look of a miniskirt with the comfort of wearing shorts. You'll never know when you might want to flip over and turn a cartwheel." said Ashley.

There was another top of pale yellow with a flower print and lace trimmed sleeves and a ribbon edging.

Someone brought out a white stretchy cap sleeved cami top and a satin camisole with lace straps peeking out of the neckline and beneath the hem. The slightly sheer chiffon top had a peter pan collar with ruffled edges

Matching this was a pair of blue stretch capris with an embroidered floral design down one leg. It had a removable red white and blue mesh fabric belt. Both the top and cami were actually one piece sewn together. Another outfit was a V neck silky top in lilac and a pair of white shorts with side ribbon ties.

Kourtney held up a halter top with stripes and polka dots on the sleeves. It tied at the neck and cinched at a wide waistband. Later, she handed me a pair of brown suede shoes that closed with Velcro straps.

"Look what I found for tonight." Jessica said. It was a rose pink satin strappy chemise style nightie with a pattern of butterflies across the chest.

"Do you know that Mary-Kate and Ashley have their own makeup line? Here is the MKA glossy sheer liquid shine lip gloss. It will give you a hint of rose pink color and put a shine on your lips. Did you notice the slanted application tip? It makes it easy for quick touchups during the day. Now for a spritz of their perfume called One with a dreamy scent called Jasmine Spice. ", explained Ashley, the makeup expert.

During the next few weeks I tried on most of these clothes as well as many others. The girls told me that Hilary Duff also has a line of clothes out. They may take me shopping for those.

"Yes, you are almost ready to go out shopping with us again. Well take you to some of our favorite stores and they'll soon become you favorites too". They mentioned Limited Too, the Gap, Old Navy for Kids and Abercrombie.

"One of our cheer coaches loves these shops even though she is in college. Say girls, do you remember that miniskirt and blazer she wore to the cheer banquet? She got it at Limited Too. She told me that since she was on the small side, she could find a lot of clothes that fit well and looked great at these shops. It didn't hurt that she saved a lot of money compared to the cost of clothes at a women's shop. Of course she doesn't buy any of the clothes with the obvious logos on them"

Speaking of Abercrombie, you just have to try on an outfit from there." Again they put together a bunch of clothes and waited for me to change. This time there were a pair of soft stretch cotton and spandex boy cut shorts and a matching camisole. These both had a small bow and ribbon detail in the front and a thin strip of lace around the edges. Next was a cotton polyester vintage tee with the word Opposites Attract on it. Finally I put on a white cotton skirt with 3 layers of ruffles that tied on the side with a drawstring. There was a pair of Abercrombie rubber flip flops and a small handbag with a shoulder strap like the kind I had seen many girls carrying around.

"All girls your age definitely need to be wearing a bra. We'll start you off with this sports bra. As you become more active in sports and other physical activities you'll want a bra that makes you feel cozy, comfortable and covered. This bra is really easy to put on. Notice the form fitting racer back style and the covered elastic band around the bottom for gentle support and to prevent it from riding up. There are no formal cups so you have comfortable support and you can keep playing confidently. It is mostly cotton with a little bit of Lycra spandex."

"Here is another delightfully comfortable bra that you will want to wear under t-shirts and tight fitting tops. It's made of silky polyester and Lycra and does have lightly padded cups. Put your arms through these adjustable straps and I'll help you with the back closures. This bra can grow with you. See how perfect it fits under your tee. Look at the smooth seamless shaping. It's lightly lined to prevent show through. Too bad the pretty lilac color can't be seen. Oh well maybe we can try on a sheer blouse and it will show the color."

"Here's one from Maidenform for Girls made of a shiny satin fabric and two way stretch foam cups. This one will give you shape and support as well as a seamless look."

Maybe we should have started you with this one. I forgot that you're new at this and you need to get adjusted and comfortable with the idea that you will be wearing a bra most of the time every day. This one can be worn by girls of all shapes and sizes. It's a soft seamless light support all cotton crop top. Notice the scooped neckline and the full back coverage. The front panel is double lined for comfort and modesty. The stretch straps are not adjustable but they are much thinner and are easily hidden under most blouses or tops. As I said you'll appreciate the super soft feel and soon you'll forget you're even wearing it"

"Now, it's time for a lesson on panties. Briefs have the elastic top at the natural waistline and the legs open at natural curves and offer full front and back coverage. The French cut have a top that is higher than the normal waist and the leg openings are cut higher to the hips. The hipster style sits about two inches below the natural waistline and offers a comfortable and sporty look. This is the type to put on if you're wearing low cut jeans so when you bend over, the waistband won't show."

"The bikini is about three inches below the waist, usually at the hips, and the leg bands are about at the top of the thigh. Boxers or boy shorts are cut at the normal waist and the legs extend down the thigh."

"Fabrics may be cotton, nylon, spandex or a combination. There may be lace and ribbons for decorations. Sometimes you'll find tiny bows at the waist or leg openings."

They then put various bra and panty sets on the bed and I had to identify them by name. They also would call out an event, like dressing for a school banquet, and asked me to decide what undies would be best to wear. I didn't do too well on the quizzes, but I was getting better.

The more time I spent with the girls, the more I was at ease. The three weeks passed quickly. Sometimes I was Carry but most of the time I was Callie. I started to smile with my cousins and I became more comfortable being with them. I realized that I was having an awesome time and that no one was really judging me even though I didn't always act as they tried to teach me. When it was time to leave I was sad because I would miss everything and everyone, but I also felt lucky that I now had some new friends and a new way to look at my life. I knew I would see them all again soon for three weeks at the end of the summer.

  

  

  

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