John's Gift            by: Prudence Walker

 

Chapter Nine

 

In the next few days I had many visitors, both sets of parents came asking me how I was getting on. Oh, and I told the police I didn’t want to press charges, but I suggested a stern warning be given against such future acts.

My burns healed quickly, probably due to the fact that Jan’s youthful body was in excellent health, I chafed at the time spent lying in bed, wanting to be with my friends and Sam.

 

Finally, the day came when I was discharged. Sam was there as requested, to ferry me home with a quick stop at Cathy’s. They fussed over me until I told them to stop, I told them I was fine and wanted things to get back to normal (which got a laugh that I joined in with). Feeling better, we left and reached home in time for lunch.

Mom had not gone out that day and greeted us with hugs, saying it was great to have me back home.

Sam stayed for lunch, saying he would drive me anywhere I wanted till I was fully recovered. I thanked him, but said, it was ok, I was able to drive, and (In fact I was looking forward to driving my car again).

Mom fussed over the state of my hair and how it looked, then asked if I was up to getting it fixed at the salon she goes to. Thinking to show Sam my independence I agreed, saying, "I’d love to mom, just let me get changed first."

Looking in my wardrobe I realised how I had missed being able to wear what I wanted of my beautiful clothes. Strange thoughts I guess from a former man, but it showed me how comfortable I had got with my role as a girl. Revelling in wearing something nice and silky again, I put on my ‘face’ (another thing I was getting used to) and a spritz of perfume and I went downstairs.

Sam was still there waiting; his eyes widened at the sight of me dolled up so soon after my trauma.

"Are you sure your ready for this, he asked anxiously?"

In reply, I just grabbed him, and gave him a kiss that seemed to leave him stunned, I winked at mom who had seen the whole thing, and said. "What do you think?"

looking at mom, I saw her smile and then a tear forming in her eyes.

"What’s wrong mom?" I asked.

Wiping her eyes, she looked at us for a moment, then said. "When I think how close you two came to getting killed, it makes me want to never let you go."

"Don’t worry mom, I still have 7 lives left yet," leaving her to puzzle over that statement.

Shooing Sam out the door saying I would see him later, I turned to mom, and asked if she was ready to go.

"Yes of course dear, I’m looking forward to seeing you and me having our hair done together."

She hugged me gingerly, mindful of my healing back. Then got her keys and said we would take her car.

Arriving at the hair salon, I tried not to show surprise for anything that was going to happen, not knowing exactly just what I was in for. Sitting next to mom I was feeling a little nervous as the ladies fussed over my hair. Listening to them saying, ‘what a pity about the damage to my hair.’ They asked me, ‘did I want extensions put on my burnt back areas, or just cut it all back, to make it look even.’

Before I could answer them, mom said. "We’ll go with the extensions, and hang the expense."

"Mom," I said, not exactly sure of what extensions entailed, "Do I really need them?"

"You’ll look lovely again in no time," mom said encouragingly.

With that, I said no more, just leaving them to weave their magic with the hanks of hair they brought out to check on colouring. I didn’t pay much attention to details as they worked on my hair, I could feel the tugging and pulling, as they went about adding long black tresses to my head. While that was going on, another girl worked on my nails, shaping and filing till they looked perfect, then adding polish in a deep red colour.

Mom too, was getting her hair permed and had had a colour rinse put though it. At last they let me look at the results of the hard work, I was amazed at the difference, My hair was long and beautiful and with a gentle wave they had permed into it. My hair looked the same, as it was before the fire, as if it hadn’t been burnt. I was very pleased with them and gave each, a hug in appreciation. I know mom gave them a generous tip in thanks for restoring my hair to its former beauty.

 

Leaving the salon, mom asked me, if there was anything I wanted to do, or get.

Thinking of bonding a bit more to my new mom, I said. "Why don’t we go shopping for some clothes?"

"Clothes!" she exclaimed, "okay, let’s hit the shops."

So saying, we drove to the centre of town where the best places for clothes could be found. Walking into several shops, we started browsing, mom taking the lead with me trying to keep up with her. We tried on several outfits and I found myself doing a great impression of a catwalk model, showing the outfit off to mom and doing a twirl for her. Needless to say we spent big bucks that day, I ending up with two new dresses, a very stylish skirt, blouse, and jacket combo not to mention the new underwear. I had bras, panties and slips in assorted colours, along with three pairs of shoes, two of which had 4-inch heels. Funnily enough I found walking in them relatively easy, all I needed to do was cast my mind back into ‘Cathy mode’ as I was beginning to call it, and the rest was easy.

At long last the day was over, and I crawled thankfully into bed after having spoken to Sam on the phone that evening after dinner. I slept soundly, not even stirring once, and any dreams I had, were forgotten by the time I woke. After breakfast, while I was getting my bag ready for school, having decided I’d rather go there and be with my friends than stay at home. Mom mentioned something about making sure I took my stuff as it was getting near that time of the month again.

I shrugged (what stuff I thought) and said, " Yes" hoping it was the right response. I never twigged as to what she meant till much later.

It wasn’t until I was doing cheerleader practice that I felt the first cramping pain, I doubled over thinking I must have pulled a muscle or something.

"What’s wrong?"

I heard the other girls say as they gathered round me. I looked up at their concerned voices thinking how different, the way girls treat other girls from the way a boy might treat another boy in the same situation.

"I don’t know, I suddenly got these cramps," I said trying to act unconcerned.

"It’s not your period is it?" they asked, I suddenly put two and two together along with what mom had said this morning,

"I’m not sure, it could be,"

I said, thinking this was something I missed learning about, being as I grew up a boy. Cathy, seeing I was in some distress, shooed the other girls away, saying I needed some space then she sat me down on the bleachers nearby. As the cramps started easing Cathy asked if I had my tampons and had I used them. I looked at her blankly for a second while that sank in, tampons of course, that’s what mom was talking about. I shook my head feeling stupid, now what do I do?

Turning to Cathy I said. "Please, I don’t even know the basics here, help me Cathy."

She looked back towards the other girls and signalled to Neri to come over then told her that she was taking me into the bathroom and to cover for us. Neri looked at me with a question in her eyes, but did as asked without comment. As we went towards the toilets, Cathy checked in her purse for some coins.

"For the machine silly, the tampon dispenser."

She said, looking at me with a grin. I grinned back thinking how lucky I was to have such a wonderful sister at such a time. When we finally got the packet containing the tampon I asked exactly how it worked. So while I lifted my skirt and dropped my panties which showed a few spots of blood, she explained quietly though the door. I felt sort of embarrassed putting the tampon in (my first, but likely not my last). It felt sort of odd having something in there, but I guess it would soon become habit. I dabbed the blood off my panties with some toilet paper, not having a spare pair with me.

Finally I had everything in the right place and I was dressed again. Coming out, I hugged Cathy thanking her for just being there for me, I started to weep for no reason, my emotions seemed to be all over the place. She hugged back and explained that my hormone levels change at this time and I may get upset easily. Things might take on more significance than it should and that I shouldn’t let them get the better of me.

Getting control of my wayward emotions was difficult, but I managed, and wiped my tears away. Looking in the mirror to see what damage I’d done to my makeup, I glanced over at Cathy. Seeing that she was looking at me intently, as if trying to see her brother in my actions, I asked questioningly. "What? Is it that bad?"

"No, nothing like that, I was thinking that your actions at the mirror are so feminine I would never guess there was a male inside there, much less my macho brother."

"You know Cathy, that’s what scares me sometimes. I feel like I might disappear and become a girl totally and forget I was ever a boy."

"I wouldn’t worry about that happening, if you can still worry about it then it hasn’t happened," she replied.

Still, I couldn’t help wondering about the future, to have any sort of life with Sam then I needed to feel really comfortable in my role as a female. Things were starting to become natural feeling. I no longer felt surprise at feeling the sensations of my breasts when I woke up each morning. In fact, they felt very nice. They were extremely sensitive not only to touch, but even to the air temperature. As a man I only had the one really erogenous zone but as a woman I had two main ones and even my skin was far more sensitive to stimulation.

What I feared most was losing that part of me that was still John; I needed to keep that part of my life, without it interfering with my new life. It was going to be a juggling act to keep things balanced.

Repairing my face took longer than usual; I could feel Cathy’s eyes on me watching me while I was doing it. I could sense her grinning even though I wasn’t looking at her and I could feel the start of a giggle trying to get out.

"Stop doing that, I’m having enough trouble doing it without you distracting me," I said in mock seriousness, then I spoiled the effect by giggling. Cathy came up behind me and hugged me. Looking into my face in the mirror, she said

"I’m really proud of you I can’t imagine how you feel going though all this, but I must say your coping exceptionally well. I mean here you are a girl for only a few weeks and your managing things that took us years to learn and deal with."

"Thanks Cathy, but much it due to your help you know. I would have been a total wreck by now if you weren’t there helping." Putting my lipstick away and checking once more in the mirror we left, Cathy with her arm around my waist giving me encouraging squeezes.

 

Joining the rest of the girls Cathy explained that I wasn’t up to continuing and would sit the session out. I was still feeling a little unsettled, but knew it would pass eventually. I wondered idly what other surprise's life as a girl would throw at me. I knew it was likely that I’d end up married and that meant having children. Which in turn meant I’d experience pregnancy, I decided to find out some book on the subject and learn what I could about it, not something I was expecting to have to learn first hand.

That night I lay awake thinking about my future. I could see Sam being a big part of it and as long as I continued to feel as I did towards him, then I figured it wouldn’t be too bad.

Next day was another at school and the same old thing, I was getting good at playing the part of a girl. I was doing well in all my subjects bar one and even that was an improvement over Jan’s old results at least I was trying. It seemed odd in retrospect that Jan who seemed to dislike showing her femininity had enrolled in a dressmaker's class. Here I was, learning about making clothes, hemming and seams and all the other terms they used. Oh well it could come in handy I guess, fortunately, Cathy was in the class as well and would often give me tips as I tried sewing on the machines. I could use the overlocker better as it whipped though the material stitching as it went.

The teachers too, were very impressed about my turnaround and had stopped making disparaging remarks to me. My parents were getting told how I was doing and it was making a big impression on them as well. Life was getting better as they keep giving me little gifts as encouragement. My dad keep hinting that if I continued to work this hard and graduate then he would let me in on a surprise.

 

The weeks started to fly past I was enjoying the way I felt I took every opportunity to dress up in my lovely clothes after school. I went out with Sam most nights, either to movies or just to have dinner out and a walk together later. We got really close and I loved being treated as a young lady, doors opened and seats held for me it was rather nice to be the centre of attention. All I had to do was look nice and everyone fell over trying to impress me. Inwardly I was grinning ear to ear, but never let it show on my face. I remembered one of my own few dates as John and knew how hard I tried to impress my date, now, I sat back at let it happen to me. Sam would sometimes try so hard I would put my hand on his and say,

"Relax its okay."

I didn’t want a slave to my every whim, I wanted an even footed relationship with both giving something each. With others I just let them try, knowing it wasn’t going to turn my head away from Sam. Cathy wanted to know if I was going to buy a new gown for the party after graduation. I told her I hadn’t thought about it, so she suggested we go with the girls together. When I told mom she said she would like to come as well. I hesitated, thinking whether the girls would want her there, she looked at me and said,

"I will pay for everyone’s outfit on one condition, that everyone graduates.

I hugged her and said, "Thanks mom, but you know there’s five of us that’s a lot of money."

She laughed and said "Its only money and I want the best for my daughter and her new friends."

The next few weeks were occupied with studying mainly as a group at one or another’s home, (we all intended to pass our exams). I found myself learning more than just my school subjects. Having four other girls around in a close and intimate group meant I picked up badly needed lessons in female behaviour. Mannerisms and gestures I gradually picked up on till I was just one of the girls. I even managed to let my more emotional side out, giggling or crying without shame or embarrassment.

School exams were coming up and I intended to pass in all my subjects, so my evenings with Sam were limited to the weekends. Not that that stopped him ringing me every five minutes, (at least that’s what it seemed like). It felt strange being the one receiving this sort of attention from a male, I remembered doing similar when I was one. It was very flattering that I was attractive enough to merit his undivided attention.

Then exams were upon us and suddenly we were all concentrating on getting good marks. With little time for exploring my blossoming relationship with Sam. Finally exams were over and we could begin to relax. I had a good idea of my marks and I felt comfortable that I would pass with flying colours, even the others when I spoke to them had high hopes of passing too.

We started looking in the shop that we had visited before when we were looking at eveningwear, discussing who was getting what. We spent a couple of hours after school looking at accessories to go with them, and generally having loads of fun.

I was enjoying the close company of the girls, I, as a boy, had been a little of a loner in my pursuit of the sciences and never really had friends as close as this. Being able to unburden myself to them on anything I wanted, gave me such a release, I felt like walking on air.

A week later we heard the results, and as expected the five of us aced all our tests and there was jubilation as we chattered together about when we were going shopping. When I told mom that we had passed, she was so ecstatic she hugged me so hard I struggled to breathe. At last she let go and I could see tears in her eyes as she held me at arm's length.

"I’m so proud of you I feel like I’m going to burst," she said. "I thought this would never come about, and your life ahead would be filled with tragedy and failed hopes."

"Mom, I nearly blew it." I said, as tears started to fill my eyes. I was trying to do Jan proud. "I could have easily have failed if not for Cathy and the other girls."

"Well I’m going to show them just how much I appreciate their help," she said, wiping her eyes on a hanky and then dabbing at my own. I wondered what she had in mind, but I knew it would be something that the others would appreciate.

The next morning mom said she would take us all shopping, so ringing the girls to let them know I got dressed and went down for breakfast. Once all the girls had been picked up (three in the back with Cathy squeezed between me and mom in the front we drove off heading away from town. Looking puzzled, I asked mom,

‘Shouldn’t we going in the other direction.’ She smiled and said.

"No this is the right direction to the airport."

"The AIRPORT!" We chorused.

"Yes, we’re flying to New York."

"NEW YORK!" We all chorused again.

"Yes were going to a very exclusive boutique were I get all my special fashions from, she replied. I looked at mom, then at the girls,

"But we could never afford to buy there" I said.

"You girls might not, but I can, this is my treat." We looked at each other in surprise. Cathy suddenly had a thought.

" What about our parents, who’s going to let them know?"

"Don’t worry I let them know last night, but told them not to tell you as it was a surprise."

The girls all started talking at once and were getting very excited at the prospect of buying something in an exclusive store. I wasn’t quite as enthused (after all it was only clothes we were buying), but looking at their rapt expressions and hearing the excited chatter I couldn’t help, but join in. I looked at mom to see her smiling too, as if it was just as exciting to be the one paying for all this as it was for us experiencing it. I suspected that she felt like part of the group, which was fine with me. As she saw me watching her, she winked and I gave her a grin and the thumbs up. We found that we were flying first class which meant we were treated as proper ladies, everyone thought this was very cool and we had a lot of fun. Even Neri, who at first was very nervous it being her first flight, but as time wore on she, too, began to have fun. All too soon we were landing and as we walked towards the airport entrance-way, a limo drove up and mom waved us towards it, by this time the girls were numb with surprise with one shock after another.

Getting into the limo we hardly knew what to think anymore, what else was in store for us. I fully intended to make the most of this trip having lived most of my life in Richmond, apart from the short time working in Nevada. The limo had a glass roof and looking up though it we could see the tall buildings as we passed. The others were glued to the windows looking at everything we passed, and made lots of comments on the clothes' people were wearing.

We were wondering just where we were headed and so I asked mom about our destination.

"Manhattan and we are going to Dorfmans," she answered. The girls looked at me with puzzled expressions and silently mouthed, ‘Dorfman’s?’ I shrugged, as I knew as much as they did. After what seemed ages driving though traffic. We came up to Dorfmans it looked very swish and up market. The driver got out and opened the doors for us like we were celebrities it felt strange, another first for me not only being looked at as a female but as one of some importance. The man at the entrance of the shop welcomed us and held open the door and ushered us in we all trooped in, mom bringing up the rear like a mother hen looking after her chicks.

Mom took over then as we just stood in amazement looking at al the clothing and the people too were something to look at. Most of he other customers oozed that aura of money, I mean you could just about smell it. I think some of them were a little disturbed as the (common riffraff) ‘us’ went walking around the shop. I was nearly expecting to be shown the door until one of people working there came over and saw mom.

"Sophie!" He exclaimed, "how nice to see you again and who are these charming ladies you have with you?" I blushed and so did some of the others at his comments.

"This is my daughter Jan," indicating me, "and these are her friends, and we are here to get them all fitted out in some of your latest fashions."

At which he took my hand and kissed the back of it gently, "I am Maurice, at your service" he said, looking at us with a critical eye. "How may I help you ladies?"

"We were looking for something to wear at our graduation party," I said looking at mom for confirmation.

She nodded and whispered in Maurice’s ear. I saw his eye’s light up (literally) and I thought hmmm, mom must intend spending big and as he lead us over the racks of clothes I could see why.

They had some of the most beautiful clothing I had even seen. I was still no expert, but these just shouted out the three ‘E’s’-- expensive, exclusive and elegant. The girls just stood there stunned, I knew they were impressed as I was, by the silence as they gingerly felt the gowns with trembling fingers.

They turned to mom and said almost with one voice.

"FOR US?" Mom looked at their half expectant faces with a poker face then slowly a smile started and as the girls saw it they ran at her, all hugging at once. By the time everyone calmed and parted I saw tears of joy in everyone’s eyes. Blinking away some tears of my own I turned, and said.

"I want this." Immediately, it started a rush as they all went grabbing what took their fancy. Mom stood back and watched a satisfied grin on her face as everyone, (me included) went to the fitting rooms to try the gowns on. I ended up with a turquoise gown in silk plus the accessories, gloves, bag and shoes. Cathy went for a metallic looking gown in brilliant blue it hugged her curves like a second skin. It was open at the back down to her waist. The others too, chose spectacular looking eveningwear and were extremely happy. Maurice had fussed over us all the time and then took mom aside when it was time to leave. For paying the bill I guessed, then we waited for the limo to return while we were given refreshments.

The girls couldn’t get over the excitement of having clothes of such quality. We couldn’t guess how much it cost as there was no price tickets (I was assuming that if you needed to know, then you couldn’t afford it), but I guessed mom knew in advance the likely cost. I found out later, having asked mom about it, that every thing had cost over fifteen thousand dollars and mom said, ‘she considered it was money well spent.’

Piling everybody and our purchases into the limo we set off again driving though the rush hour traffic. Not back to the airport, but to a small Italian restaurant in a quiet area, away from the crowds. I looked at mom wondering why we weren’t stopping at a lavishly elegant one, more in keeping with the style that I would have expected from mom. As she saw the unspoken question in my eyes she said. "This is where I first met your dad and it has sentimental significance to me, plus the food is excellent."

We found out that the hosts were also very nice and greeted mom as an old friend. All too soon after having one of the best Italian dishes I had ever eaten, we were again on the road this time, headed for the airport and home. Relaxing back into the leather upholstery I thought about this day as one of the best I’d had since becoming Jan. I knew I’d been extremely lucky and fortunate to still be alive and in obtaining such a lovely body and family.

 

To be continued………

 

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