Hand-Me-Downs

by Jennifer White

 

Kimberly sighed. It was hard being a single mother, raising four children. There was always something that needed to be done around the house, and along with the three jobs she worked, there never seemed to be time for herself. But she was a mother, and more than anything, she wanted her children to succeed in the world. So she did what she had to, in order to give them a safe home, nutritious food so they would grow up strong and healthy, as well as doing the best she could to keep them in nice clothes.

The trouble had started when her husband up and left her, after seven years of marriage. At the time, Chelsea was 5, Haley was 3, Vanessa was 2, and she was pregnant. It was heartbreaking and crushing for her to be abandoned like that, and in a way, she was sorry that she had a son. She named him Timmy, after her grandfather, but she swore that she would never trust a man again.

 

As part of the divorce, Kimberly got to keep the modest house. Of course, after a few years, the child support checks stopped coming, and the legal system seemed powerless to pry any money out of her former husband's bank accounts. She didn't have the means to hire a big fancy lawyer, so she took on a second job to make ends meet.

She worked Monday through Friday at an office, at the front desk, greeting visitors and signing them in. On the weekends, she worked in a book store, and two nights a week she cleaned people's houses for them. All jobs you could do without needing a college education. Her father thought he should marry off his daughters, not send them to school. Kimberly deeply regretted that decision now. Another man who helped make her life what it was.

But at least she had her children. They meant everything to her, and she sacrificed everything for them.

 

One problem that the family had was clothes. With three girls and one boy, there was a constant need for new clothes. And of course, the girls all wanted to dress up in the latest fashions, like the other girls were doing at school. But lots of new outfits for everyone was out of the question.

For the girls, there was also the problem that they were growing so fast. If Kimberly bought an outfit for Haley, she'd outgrow it well before it wore out. That was wasteful with money being so tight. So Kimberly developed a system. She would buy an outfit for Chelsea, the oldest girl. When Haley got big enough, the outfit would pass down to her. And then Vanessa, the youngest girl would get it in turn. The girls had to live with hand-me-downs.

 

"Mom, it's not fair!" said Vanessa. "Chelsea gets new clothes, but I'm always wearing something used. And something two years out of date! Everyone thinks I'm a dork, because I dress in old rags!"

"They're not rags" said Kimberly gently. "And we've discussed this before. We just don't have the money to buy each of you new outfits. I always give you a new skirt for your birthday, or a blouse for Christmas. If I had more money, believe me honey, I'd buy you all the clothes you could ever want. I'm doing the best I can."

"I know mom" said Vanessa, putting her head down. "Its just like *so* not fair to me. Timmy gets new clothes, and so does Chelsea. When Haley gets something, its not that old. But when *I* get it...."

"I know dear" said Kimberly, hugging her daughter. "I'm sorry I can't be a better provider for you."

"I'm sorry" said Vanessa, who started to cry. She knew that her mom never bought herself new clothes either, other than what she needed for work, to look nice and professional. She felt guilty for blaming her mom, when she knew that it wasn't her fault. The two cried and hugged each other some more.

 

* * *

 

The economy wasn't doing great in Midville, where the family lived. The steel plant had closed years ago, and now each year the town seemed to die off more and more. Jobs were scarce, and those that could be found didn't pay what they used to.

One of the women who hired Kimberly to clean her house lost her job, and had to tell her that her services were no longer required. That was a blow to the family's budget, but then things got even worse. The book store announced that it was closing. The owner was retiring and moving to Florida.

"The book business isn't what it used to be. Not in Midville, anyway" he told Kimberly. "This shop doesn't sell enough to make it worthwhile for anyone to buy. I've been trying for two years, but I can't find anyone interested in keeping it open. I'm afraid I'm going to have to close it down."

 

Now the family was in a very tight spot. Kimberly searched for another job, but it was no use. So many other people in town were looking for work. People who had college educations, and more qualifications. Kimberly didn't have a chance.

"We're going to need to make some sacrifices" she told the family around the dinner table. "Until I can find more work, I'm afraid that we're going to have to get rid of cable TV. And you girls will have to cut down on your phone usage. We need to make the rent payment, and buy groceries. After that, everything else is a luxury."

Everyone was upset at the news, but they understood. Like it or not, they would all have to sacrifice for now.

 

"Mom!" yelled Timmy, a few days later.

"What is it dear?" she replied, as she packed lunches for the children to take to school.

"Come here!" he said. "Please!"

Kimberly sighed, and put down the loaf of bread. She hoped it wouldn't take long. She was going to be late for work if she didn't get things done quickly.

"Yes dear" said Kimberly. "What's wrong?"

"I need new underwear" he said. "Look. These are full of holes."

"I know" said Kimberly. "I just can't afford to buy you new ones right now."

"Well I need a pair to wear" he insisted.

"Hang on" said Kimberly, who was feeling angry now. He was going to make her late for work. He didn't seem to care that she was doing her best. He just wanted. As usual. So Kimberly went into the girl's room, and went to the dresser drawer. She pulled out a pair of white cotton panties, and returned to Timmy's room.

"Here" she said. "You can wear these."

"No way!" said Timmy. "These are for girls!"

"They are for you now" said Kimberly authoritatively. "I can't afford new underwear for you. So you're going to wear what we have available. Now put those on, and get ready for school. I have to get going, or I'll be late."

"But mom!" protested Timmy.

"Now!!!" said Kimberly angrily.

She wasn't in a mood to put up with any lip. It was just one day before she was due, and her PMS was at its worst. With everything else going on, she was ready to snap. Timmy saw the heat in her eyes. He quieted down, and took the panties from her. He turned around, and put them on, then continued to dress as Kimberly returned to the kitchen.

 

* * *

 

As Kimberly did the family budget that night, she realized something. If she could start giving hand-me-downs from the girls to Timmy, it would save a lot of money. Money the family really needed right now, with their financial crisis.

She considered sending the girls out to get jobs, and maybe Timmy could start to cut lawns. But she knew that work would cut into their free time, and interfere with their schoolwork. No matter what, she was going to make sure that her girls got to do what she didn't: they would go to college. So their grades were the main concern now. Chelsea was a senior in high school, and they were already applying for all sorts of scholarships.

And so Kimberly went into Timmy's room. She went through his drawers, and removed the worst of his underwear. Then she went to the girl's room, and took more panties to replace them. He got through his first day in panties just fine. He'd have to deal with it, and adjust.

Next, she went to his closet, and removed some of his oldest and worst shirts. These, she replaced with blouses that were getting too small for the girls. Lastly, she moved a couple of pairs of pants and shorts from the girl's closet to Timmy's.

"I can't wear those mom!" he protested.

"Yes you will" she replied. "Or else I'll replace all of your pants with *skirts*. Would you prefer to go to school in a skirt tomorrow?"

"No!!!" said Timmy.

"Fine. Then you'll wear the nice new clothes I've given you."

Timmy was mortified. He'd be wearing a blouse and girl's pants to school. Kimberly had picked ones that weren't too frilly or feminine. But it was the point of it that disturbed Timmy. But there was nothing he could do now. He was going to *have* to go to school in girl's clothes. Only he would know they were made for a girl, or at least he hoped.

 

* * *

 

Kimberly found some more innovative ways to save money for the family. For one thing, Timmy could use his sister's tennis shoes when they had outgrown them. So what that they had light blue trim, they fit him, and they were good enough to still wear. She even put a pair of black flats into his closet, but she never saw him wear them. Boys mostly wore sneakers to school. She'd make them put the flats on if they had to dress up for a more formal occasion.

Or in the bathroom which the children all shared, instead of buying different shampoos and conditioners (two for the girls, and a different one for Timmy), she bought one single product, which they'd all have to share. So what that it smelled pretty and there was a picture of a woman with long blond hair on the label? Timmy could wash his hair with that too, and save the family money.

Kimberly bought the shampoo at a store that sold items in larger sizes, to save money buying in bulk. Likewise, she bought a 20-pack of pink, rose scented soap. It was cheaper that way. Again, Timmy could complain about the smell, but she had to keep the girls happy too. And there were three of them.

 

* * *

 

"My hair is getting too long" said Timmy one day over dinner. "I'm due for a haircut."

"You'll just have to wait dear" said Kimberly. "We can only afford haircuts from time to time now, and Vanessa just got her hair done. So I'm sorry, but it will have to wait until later."

Timmy frowned. He didn't like having his hair getting so long.

"But its getting all tangled and wild" he protested.

"I told you to start using conditioner on it when you shower" said Kimberly. "And Haley, after your brother showers, show him how to brush his hair properly."

"Sure, mom" replied Haley, who was always eager to help. She was such a good girl. Kimberly sighed. If only Timmy was good, like his sister.

"You know," whispered Haley to Timmy, "That long hair gives you a rebellious look. I think its cool."

Timmy smiled. He liked the idea of being rebellious. No longer would he argue about his hair length. But he still wasn't going to be nice to Haley (or any of his sisters for that matter), if he could help it. He hated it that he was being forced to wear *their* clothes. The madder at them (and his mom) that he got, the more he got into fights with them. The more he was made to dress like them, the more he tried to distance himself from them.

He was a 13 year old boy! He hated having to wear girl's clothes. But what choice did he have? It wasn't like he could go out and buy new clothes for himself. He was stuck in panties and blouses, as well as his sister's old pants and shoes.

 

* * *

 

"Oh dear" said Kimberly into the phone.

"Mom, what's wrong?" said Vanessa, who was looking at the tears streaking down her mother's face.

"Mom?" said Haley.

"Are you okay?" asked Chelsea.

Only Timmy was oblivious to her distraught state.

 

"Mom, what is it?" asked Chelsea, when she finally hung up the phone.

"Its my sister. Your Aunt Mary. She is in the hospital, and it is serious."

"Oh no!" said Haley. "What happened?"

"She just collapsed. They don't know."

"Mom, you've got to go see her. She'll need your support" said Haley.

Kimberly nodded. Her daughter was right. It had been going through her mind, the whole time that she spoke on the phone to her sister's doctor.

 

 

An hour later, Kimberly was packed up, and ready to leave in the family's car. It was older, but it still ran great. It was a six hour drive to where her sister Mary lived, and of course paying for a flight was out.

"I'll be gone for about a week I think" she told the family, as they stood in the driveway to see her off.

"Why do you have to leave us?" said Timmy.

"Because, it's her sister, stupid" said Vanessa.

"Don't call your brother names" instructed Kimberly.

"Yes mother" said Vanessa.

"Chelsea, I'm leaving you in charge until I get back. There is enough food in the refrigerator for at least five days. And we have frozen food too, if you run low. Mary's phone number is on the kitchen table, and the number for the hospital where she is staying."

"We know mom. You've told us twelve times already" said Haley.

But she was smiling as she said it. She knew that her mom was just being protective, and trying to be helpful.

"This is stupid" said Timmy.

The girls all smiled and waved as their mother drove off, while Timmy stood with his back to her. Soon the car drove around the corner, and out of sight.

 

"What are we going to do about the amazing brat child?" said Haley.

The three girls were sitting on the bed together, talking about their plans for the next few days alone. They would get by without problems, but Timmy was another story. None of them wanted to be his baby-sitter.

They discussed several options, on what they could try to do in order to keep him in line. But then Chelsea had the spark of an idea. She thought about it some more, and then a big smile lit up her face.

"What is it?" asked Vanessa. "What are you thinking of?"

"You know how mom said something the other day, when Timmy was getting into trouble?"

"She said how she wished he acted good, like we did" replied Haley.

"Exactly. Like us. The girls."

The other two nodded.

"And you know how mom has been dressing him in our clothes?"

"She had to. We're broke, remember?"

"I'm aware of our financial situation" said Chelsea, almost snapping back. "I've seen mom crying at night when she thinks she's alone. I know she wants to do better for us."

"So what is it you're proposing?"

"Here's what we'll do....." she said, as her sisters listened in. Soon, they too were smiling. It was a wonderful brilliant plan. And now, it was time to set it in motion.

 

* * *

 

"Don't forget to take your vitamins Tommy" said Chelsea in a sassy tone of voice, as he ate his dinner later that evening.

"I'm not a little kid, you don't have to treat me like one just because you're in charge!" he said.

"Mom said you have to listen me" she shot back. "Do you want me to tell her that you won't even take your vitamins because I asked you to?"

He glared at her. This was going to be a rough week.

"These look different" he said, staring at the pills. They were smaller than usual, and pink.

"New brand" said Chelsea, "to save money."

He gulped down the pink pills with his glass of milk. He thought he heard his other two sisters giggle when Chelsea said that, but he was trying to ignore them, so he didn't think anything of it. After he took his vitamins, the girls left him alone for the rest of the night, which was fine by him.

 

The next day was Saturday, and Haley cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast.

"I took my vitamins at dinner. I don't need them now" he said to Chelsea.

"This is a different brand, remember? See how they're smaller? You take them with every meal."

Satisfied with her explanation, Tommy took the pills. He was given another dose of them with his lunch, after which Chelsea called everyone in for a meeting.

"With mom gone, we need to split up the chores. Today we have dish washing, laundry, vacuuming, and bed making. Tommy, you're the youngest. What do you want?"

"None of them" he shot back. He was going to tell her that all those chores were "women's work", but he knew that he'd catch a lot of heat from her if he did say it. So he just held his tongue.

"Very well" she said. "Vanessa, your pick."

"I'll do the laundry" she said.

"I've got the dishes" said Haley, who was next oldest.

"And I'll make the beds" said Chelsea. "That leaves you with vacuuming, Tommy."

Tommy grumbled, but what could he do? It was only fair that he help out with the chores, even if it was something he didn't like doing.

"You had better put this on" said Haley, handing a white apron to Tommy. He was afraid to touch it. It had ruffles on the edges, and it looked all frilly and girlish.

"I'm not wearing that!" he said.

"Mom does when she vacuums. You don't want to get your clothes all dirty do you?" replied Haley. "Because your other clothes are in the wash. You won't have a clean outfit. Unless you want to wear one of *mine*."

"No way!" he said, taking the apron from her and putting it on. He felt completely ridiculous wearing a frilly apron like that, with all the ruffles. And now he set about vacuuming, which was just as humiliating. But worst of all, as he was doing the chore, there was suddenly a flash of light. He turned to see Vanessa holding a camera.

"What are you doing, taking my picture!" he said.

"I'm just doing it to show mom that you helped out, like you were supposed to. Just in case Chelsea gets all upset at you. You know how she gets. I'm trying to help you Tommy. Now we've got proof for mom that you did help."

"Yeah, I guess" he said, although he didn't like the idea of being photographed in the apron. Not one little bit.

 

After vacuuming, Tommy turned on the TV to watch the ball game. His sisters were still working around the house cleaning and cooking, but he didn't care. He wanted to see his team play. He watched until Vanessa called him into the kitchen for dinner, where he was given more of the new pills to take.

He ate his dinner, and of course took all his pills so that he wouldn't have to argue with Chelsea. After he ate, he went to his room, and saw the stack of clothes on his bed, neatly folded. But he was aghast when he saw them. He ran out to the hallway looking for Vanessa.

"What did you do to my clothes!!!!!" he yelled.

His white shirts now had a pink tint to them, as did his socks and his collection of panties.

"I made a mistake" said Vanessa, as her head drooped down. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Mistake?" said Tommy.

"Yes. I had some red things in with the white wash, and they bled. I'm *so* sorry."

Now she did start crying.

"I have to go around wearing pink clothes now!" he said.

That caused Vanessa to cry even harder.

 

"What did you do to your sister!" demanded Chelsea, who walked up to see what the commotion was all about. "Did you hit her?"

"No" said Tommy. "I just yelled at her. She ruined my shirts. Look! They're pink now!"

"Hold on" said Chelsea.

A few moments later, she returned with several tops for Tommy.

"Here" she said. "If you won't wear pink, you can have these."

Tommy looked at the first top. It was black, with a V-neck, and little spaghetti straps going over the shoulders. The next one was dark blue, a cami top with sequins. And the third one was "sea foam green".

"You expect me to wear these?" said Tommy.

"They're not pink" replied Chelsea.

"And she ruined my panties too" he said, showing her a pair of his now-pink panties.

"Geez" said Chelsea. "What a cry baby. Hang on...."

She went to her room, and returned with two pair of black panties. But these were silky and shiny, completely different from the cotton ones that he had been wearing. There was a third pair that was dark blue, but it was a Brazilian cut thong style. He didn't realize it though; all he saw was blue.

 

There was a buzz, and Vanessa ran off.

"The dryer is done!" she said.

She returned with a basket full of clothes, which she started to hand out. When she got to Tommy, he was very upset.

"You shrank my jeans!" he yelled. "I can't get into these now! I can't believe you did this to me!"

Now Vanessa was crying again, bawling full out. It took both of her sisters to calm her down.

"You made her cry again!" said Chelsea, with anger in her voice.

"But she ruined my clothes!" said Tommy. "Now I don't have any jeans to wear."

"Haley, go get something to replace the jeans" she said.

 

A few minutes later, Haley returned with several bottoms for Tommy. First, there was a pair of low-rider cropped-jeans, which came down to about his knee. Secondly, there was a pair of Capri pants, and lastly, two skirts.

"That's all I can find that will fit him" she said.

Tommy took the pile from her, and threw it on his bed. He went to put on the jeans, as short as they were, as soon as the girls left the room. But there was a problem. Not only were they way too high on his legs, and way too low on his bottom, but he couldn't get them to button up. He was fine at the hips, but the waist was too narrow for him to get into the jeans. He wasn't shaped like a girl, and tight jeans just wouldn't fit him.

"I guess you'll have to wear the skirt" said Chelsea. "Until I can figure out how to scrape up enough money to go shopping, and get you something else."

 

Now Tommy was completely humiliated. He would have to spend the next day wearing a skirt. All night long he had nightmares about it, fearful that somehow someone would see him like that. If he was discovered, he'd be teased at school. How could his sisters be so stupid? He went to sleep feeling angry and upset.

 

* * *

 

The next morning was terrible for Timmy. After showering with the 'smelly' shampoo that left a scent of flowers on his head, and the pink soap that left his skin feeling smooth (and smelling like flowers too), he went to get dressed. He put on the new black glossy panties that Chelsea had just given him, along with the cami top. It was all girlie, but at least it wasn't pink. But then came the part he was dreading: he had to put on a skirt.

The one that the girls selected for him was baby blue, and it came down to just below his knees. He put on his sneakers, and went to eat breakfast. He took his pills, then ate his food. The girls came in and saw him wearing the sneakers. They all started to laugh and giggle.

"You can't wear sneakers with that!" said Vanessa. "It looks silly. Here. Let me pick out something for you."

"But those have heels" said Tommy, as she handed him the shoes.

"They're just little heels. They'll make you look taller. You want to look taller, don't you?"

"I guess" said Tommy.

"Then its settled. You'll forget you have them on in no time. Plus, they're very cute, and they go with your outfit" said Vanessa.

Tommy looked at himself in the mirror. He was dressed like a girl.

"I that this shirt" he said.

"It's not a *shirt*. Its a cami" said Haley.

"Then I hate this cami!" said Tommy.

"Why?" asked Chelsea. "It looks good on you."

"Well, first of all, it looks too girlish. And I hate the sparkly stuff on it! And why does it do this?" he said, holding his hands up by his chest.

"This?" asked Haley.

"It makes it look like I've got something on my chest!" said Tommy.

"You mean boobs" said Chelsea.

Tommy just stared at her.

"It has a built-in bra" said Haley, helpfully. "There is some padding there, so that your nipple doesn't show through, and so that your boobs look bigger. I think it looks really cute on you."

"Yes" said Chelsea. "You'd look cute with boobs."

"Yes" added Haley. "She would."

"She?" said Tommy, tears building up in his eyes. "Why are you doing this to me?"

He hated being teased like this. They had him dressed up as a girl. It looked like he had little boobs under his cami. And now, they were calling him 'she'. He felt terrible! He started to cry.

"See?" said Chelsea. "She cries like a girl too."

"Come on Chelsea, leave her alone" said Vanessa defensively. She was the only one who was always somewhat supportive of her brother, and once again she was defending him. But Tommy noticed that even she was calling him 'her' now.

"She has to learn the truth" insisted Chelsea. "Do you want to tell her, or should I?"

"I will" said Vanessa. "Unlike you, *I'll* be gentle."

She turned to Tommy, and sat down beside him.

"You know that mom really hates you, don't you?" she asked. "Ever since dad was such a jerk, she has really hated all men."

"No she doesn't!" said Tommy.

"Really? Then why has she never dated a man in the last 13 years since you were born? Have you ever seen her have a man come over here, except for her sister's husband? Does she ever talk to a man on the phone? Or is it always her girlfriends."

Tommy looked up and nodded. He had never thought about it before.

"You were born as her child, so she loved you. You grew up as a boy, and she tolerated you, even though you are constant trouble. You get into more trouble then all three of us girls combined. I've heard her on the phone, telling her friends, how she wished that you were born as a girl too."

"No..." whispered Tommy, who felt completely crushed now. His own mother wished that he was a girl?

"And now, you're making things worse" said Vanessa gently. "It is bad enough that you were born a boy. But now you're starting to mature. You're starting to turn into the thing that mom hates the most. You're starting to turn into a man. You can't do that to mom. You'll break her heart. She'll hate you, like she does all men."

"No!!!!" said Tommy, who was crying now, full out.

"I'm afraid so" chimed in Haley. "Once you become a man, mom will hate you. She'll throw you out of the house, and she'll never speak to you again."

"But I won't be like dad. I promise!" he said desperately.

"That's what they all say. Dad promised mom to love her forever. What good is the word of a *man*?" said Chelsea. "Once you mature, that's it. You're out of here, and mom will never see you again. She'll never talk to you on the phone. She'll never send birthday cards, since that's the day you ruined her life by being born."

Tommy was a mass of tears now, crying uncontrollably. He loved his mother more than anything, and he couldn't take it hearing that she didn't love him. That she never wanted to see him again. That she was going to *hate* him, because he was becoming a man.

The girls all looked at each other. They were ready for the next step. He had been torn down, and was feeling so low. Now they could swoop in and fix things. Make him feel good about himself again. They could remake him. In their image.

"Mom wants to love you" said Vanessa. "She really does. She she's trying the only thing she can, so that she can keep you in her heart."

"What's that?" said Tommy, as he sniffled.

"She wants to turn you into a girl."

 

There was dead silence, as Tommy looked completely stunned. His own mother wanted to turn him into a girl? She didn't want him to be a boy?

"You know it's true" said Haley. "She put you into panties, didn't she? She has been giving you *our* old clothes to wear. Nothing to feminine and pretty yet, but you've been going to school wearing panties, a girl's sweater, and girl's jeans. She is already dressing you like a girl."

Tommy knew it was true. He couldn't argue.

"And you now use girl's bathroom products. Even your deodorant is made for a girl. Its only a matter of time before she starts having you wear makeup and everything, like we do."

"She's having you grow your hair long, so we can make it look pretty, like ours."

"Your new vitamins are really female hormones. She wants you to start to develop feminine traits, so she wanted us to put you onto hormones, so you'll develop into a *girl*."

"You've been doing woman's work around the house, because instead of growing up to be a man, you're going to grow up to be a *woman* one day. Just like mom."

"Mom always wished that you were a girl. That's why she's wanted you to do all this."

"We're just doing it to make her happy. She's sacrificed her whole life for us. Don't you want to do something for *her*?"

"Don't you want her to be happy?"

 

"Yes" said Tommy slowly.

He hadn't realized that his being a boy caused so much pain for his mom. He loved her so much, and didn't realize that he was hurting her, just by being who he was. The girls had him convinced. If she was going to be happy, then he had to become like them. He had to become a girl.

He wanted his mom to be happy. He would do what his sisters wanted. He didn't realize that the massive amounts of female hormones he had been taking were already effecting him. They were being absorbed by his body, and started to trigger female responses in his cells. He was becoming more passive now, as the estrogen effected his brain. Without the pills, he never would have agreed to what he was about to do.

"Go ahead" he said. "Make me a girl."

"Sure Rebecca" said Chelsea. "We're all here to help."

Rebecca? She had just called him Rebecca!

"You'll make a very pretty girl, Rebecca" said Haley.

"I'm *so* glad that you're my sister now" said Vanessa.

 

Tommy was too stunned to know what to say. He pretty much just sat there, and let the girls tell him what to do. Under their orders, he showered again, but this time he shaved his legs, his chest, and his armpits. Without all the body hair, he'd look more like a girl.

After his shower, the put on his panties, and then a matching bra that Vanessa supplied him with. He didn't protest as Chelsea stuffed the bra, to make it look like he had boobs. He put his skirt back on, and his shoes, along with a tank top. The straps of his bra were too wide to go with the cami top, so he needed something with wider straps to cover them up.

"You don't want to have your bra straps showing" said Vanessa. "Unless you're trying to be flirty."

Now Tommy sat there, in a chain in the kitchen, as the girls went to work on him. Chelsea started on his hair, using the curling iron, and then styling it. Haley plucked his eyebrows, and then started putting makeup on his face. And Vanessa put bright pink polish on his fingernails.

All three girls raided their jewelry boxes, and each of them returned with something for Tommy. Haley gave him a pretty necklace. Chelsea had a couple of rings for his fingers. And Vanessa gave him a bracelet, along with clip-on earrings. With everything in place, they took him to the mirror.

"I look like a girl" he whispered.

"You *are* a girl, Rebecca" said Chelsea.

"You're one of *us* now" said Vanessa.

 

Now the girls went to the kitchen cabinet, and pulled out a stack of black plastic garbage bags.

"Come on" said Haley.

"What are we doing?" asked Tommy.

"Fixing your room" she replied.

They went into Tommy's room. Chelsea started by pulling the posters of bikini babes off the wall, and throwing them out. Haley was going through his closet, bagging up all of his boy-clothes, while Vanessa did the same for his dresser. Then they bagged up all of the toys he would play with as a boy, along with the adventure books, books on dinosaurs, books on trains, and books about war. They bagged up his toys too.

Now the girls scrambled to their rooms. The brought back more clothes for Tommy. Hand-me-downs. They have him skirts, sweaters, shorts, blouses, pantyhose, nighties.... the works. They put cosmetics onto his little desk. They took posters of hunky movie and rock stars (some with their shirts off), and hung them on his walls. They gave him hair brushes and a lighted makeup mirror. And in place of his toys, they gave him teddy bears and dolls.

But they weren't done yet. Now they loaded up all of the garbage bags into the old toy wagon in the garage, and they walked down the street with the pile of clothes, toys and books.

"Where are we going?" asked Tommy.

"To the second hand store, to sell all of this" said Chelsea.

"They'll pay us for this" said Haley.

"What are we going to do with the money?" asked Vanessa.

It was a line they had rehearsed before, so that Tommy didn't get any ideas.

"We're going to do something for mom with it" replied Haley, right on cue.

 

At the second hand store, they unloaded all of the bags, which the nice woman at the counter inspected. She decided on a price, and counted out the cash from the till.

"How much is this?" asked Chelsea, pointing to an item in the jewelry case.

She talked with the lady, and it turned out to be just a little more expensive than what she was about to pay them.

"Its for our mom" said Timmy.

"I tell you what" said the lady. "We'll call it even then. A swap."

"Thank you so much!" said Vanessa. "Mom is going to love it!"

It was a diamond tennis bracelet. Not the best quality, not with top-of-the-line diamonds. But it did sparkle and shine. And it was pretty. Their mother would be very surprised indeed.

 

* * *

 

Every night, Chelsea spoke to her mom on the phone, after the younger children had gone off to bed.

"I'm coming home tomorrow" she told her.

"That's awesome!" said Chelsea. "When should we expect you?"

"Right after lunch" said Kimberly.

Chelsea knew that there was a lot of work left to do. And one important thing that she needed to take care of now. Tommy. If her mom came home, and saw him dressed up, she might be upset. Chelsea had to set things up now, to be sure it turned out right.

"Listen mom, I need to talk to you about Tommy."

"Is he being bad again" said Kimberly, with audible disgust in her voice.

"He was" said Chelsea, "but not anymore. Now please listen. You need to be supportive of him. He wanted to make a big change in his life....."

 

* * *

 

The next morning, the girls were a flurry of activity with 'Rebecca'. They needed to teach 'her' so much. How to sit. How to stand. How to put on 'her' own makeup, and do 'her' own hair. There are so many things a girl knows, about which a boy is clueless. How do you pick out a cute outfit? How do you hold your purse? Even they way you carry your schoolbooks is different from how the boys do it. We do so many things differently, without even thinking about it. And boys are clueless about it, not even noticing the differences.

So there was much work to do, in very little time. Their mother would be home soon, and if the plan was to fully succeed, then Tommy would have to look like he was really trying to act like a girl. They worked on him with his tone of voice. And how to stand with the right posture. They stuffed his bra extra-full, to emphasize his 'boobs', and draw the eye away from his bigger shoulders. They also put a lot of extra makeup on his eyes, which were the best part of his face.

 

 

A few hours later, Kimberly walked in the door. Chelsea was washing the dishes from lunch. Haley was in the back room, pulling clothes from the washer, and placing them into the dryer. Vanessa was washing the window in the kitchen. And in the livingroom, Tommy was wearing her apron, vacuuming. He was dressed like a girl. Kimberly was shocked to see the red polish on his fingernails and the makeup on his face.

When Chelsea told her about Tommy's decision to become a girl, she was shocked. But she was determined to be supportive of it. She loved all of her children, and if he wanted to be a girl, that was his choice. She wouldn't interfere. And in a way, it was a blessing in disguise. She had always wished he had been born a girl.

"Why girls, look at you all, busy cleaning like little ladies of the house."

They all came running over to see her.

"Mom!" they all said, giving her hugs.

"Chelsea, you did a great job of keeping the house in order while I was gone" she said.

"Thanks mom" she replied.

"Haley, it's so good to see you. I like what you did with your hair."

"Thanks mom" replied Haley, giving her a hug.

"Vanessa, go clean your face. You've got dirt smudged all over it."

"Sorry mom. I've been cleaning" she said.

"I can see. Very impressive!" said Kimberly.

Now she turned to her youngest child, her son.

"Why Rebecca, look at you!" she said. "You're just the prettiest little girl I've ever seen."

"Thanks mom" said Tommy, giving her another hug.

He thought that once she saw him like that, she might yell at the girls for dressing him up. But instead, she was *praising* him for being pretty. He realized at that moment, that she really *did* want for him to be a girl. It was like something snapped in his mind. He would dedicate himself from then on to being a girl, so he could become just like her.

 

When Kimberly had heard the news from Chelsea that Tommy wanted to be Rebecca now, she thought it was just a phase. But when she saw him looking so pretty, she realized he was serious about it. And when his face lit up when she called him pretty, she realized he was very serious about it. She promised herself to do everything she could to help him transition into the feminine world.

She received more reinforcement on her opinion soon after, when she noticed something.

"Why are my birth control pills on the counter?"

Kimberly took them to reduce the effects of her monthly cycle. She hated how she had to struggle not to gain weight, but it was better than losing a couple of days a month to her intense periods.

"I've been taking them, for the hormones" said Tommy.

Now Kimberly was sure in her mind. He really *did* want to become Rebecca. She would be sure to spend a lot of time with 'her' over the next few months, to help teach 'her' about all of the things that 'she' would need to know as a girl. It would be fun actually, to teach another daughter all of the things a mother wants to pass down. She decided it was something that she could look forward to.

"Mom, how's Aunt Mary" said Haley. "You never told us."

"She's going to be fine. She was working too hard, and had too much stress. She's made a full recovery, and everything will be fine."

"I'm so glad to hear that!"

"Me too!"

 

The family all had a group hug. The mother, and her four *girls*. Chelsea smiled when she saw how happy Timmy had become, now that he was Rebecca. Instead of a sad moping boy, always in trouble, he was now Rebecca. A happy, loving girl. He was no longer left out. Now he was fully part of the family.

"If I ever get married" she thought, "this is what I'm going to do to my husband. I'm going to turn him into a girl, so that we can be happy together."

'Rebecca' was basking in all the attention that 'she' was receiving from her mother. She decided that it wasn't bad at all being a girl. In fact, it was much better. It was a lot of fun. Now she was just like her sisters, and they could do everything together. It wasn't even that bad being the youngest, and having to wear their hand-me-downs.

"I love you all" she said. "You're the best family a girl could ever have."

 

The End

  

  

  

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