Lakeland Visit                                     by: Amanda Walker

 

A Journey Part 1

The train finally arrived at the station, John had been looking forward to visiting his Aunt, Mum and Dad were off on a cruise and he was to spend the summer in the Lake District. The sky had darkened on the spring evening and rain was in the air, standard Lakes then. He left the train and stepped onto the deserted platform of the unmanned station, he'd done this journey before and knew there was a local bus from Staveley to the valley where his aunt's house was. He carried a sport bag with all a teenage lad needs for six weeks away (not much!) and went down to the bus-stop. The bus would be along in 10 minutes, there was no shelter and as it started to rain gently he was annoyed but not too bothered his light jacket keeping most of the wet at bay. The rain intensified and became torrential he could not leave the stop as the bus was due. He was now getting very wet, but hey he'd be at Mary's soon. The bus finally arrived 10 minutes late by which time he was thoroughly drenched.

The driver smiled at his bedraggled state as he threw his wet bag into the luggage rack and himself the only passenger onto the bus. The big advantage with these country buses was that they'd stop wherever you wished so he told the driver to drop him at Skilthwaite Crag and settled down for the Twenty-minute journey. It was nice and warm on the bus after the cold rain and he dozed while the bus meandered down the dark lanes. The driver called to him as they stopped outside his aunts’ and he jumped up and off the bus toward the welcoming lights. The house a small villa was up a short drive and built of Lakeland slate it fitted into the landscape so well and held many happy memories for him.

The door opened as soon as he reached it, he was welcomed in by his aunt who gave him a big hug and immediately said "Oh my dear you're soaking wet let's get you out of those wet things and beside the fire, I'll make a hot drink". The logs crackled and spit their warm glow he felt much better but the rain had soaked him right through and his hair was matted down. "Finish your drink and then we'll get you into a hot bath. Where are your cases?" asked Aunt Mary, "oh no! They're still on the bus" he cried. "Oh well don't worry we'll find you something to wear, get upstairs and have your bath, I'll put something out for you". He enjoyed the hot soak in the old-fashioned bath on legs with huge taps and fittings and after about 20 minutes he dried off and put on the towelling robe his aunt had left out. She heard him leaving the bathroom and called-up " go into the bedroom opposite, my dear, which will be yours for your stay". He remembered it was his Cousin Cynthia's room, he had played with her here when they were younger. Now she was away on a British Council scheme in Africa.

Aunt Mary had left clothing on the bed but… On the bed were a pair of cotton knickers, a girl’s cotton vest and some knee socks and beside them a medium length blue knitted dress, like an extended jumper. His initial shock gave way to amusement; he appeared to have little choice, as his things couldn’t be recovered until tomorrow. What he hoped his aunt didn’t know was he occasionally ‘borrowed’ his sister’s things but was sure he had never been discovered. What an opportunity, justified dressing-up!

As he quickly dressed he realised that the dress did not hang correctly, as there wasn’t anything padding out the chest department. Then he had the idea, let’s do this properly. Stripping off to only the knickers, he rummaged around in the bedside drawers until he found what he wanted. First the bra which he filled with some rolled up socks, then the dark semi-gloss blue Lycra tights and a black full-length slip which felt gorgeous. Now he replaced the dress and on zipping the neck found it following his new curves. His aunt had left out some wool-fleece slippers so he slipped them on and replacing the towel on his wet hair went downstairs.

"I see you’ve enhanced the outfit," said Mary smiling. "You don’t mind do you?" he replied. "Not at all, I didn’t know whether or not you’d go for it, but you’ve done a good job, it is just until we get your things back on Monday. Come here and I’ll dry your hair." He was tired and sat back on the chair as Mary smiled mischievously as she brushed and curled his hair as she dried it. "There dear, time for some food I think." As she removed the casserole from the oven, he devoured the tasty treat.

As he sat down after the meal the food, the long journey and the warmth of the fire caused him to fall fast asleep. He awoke later to the sound of his aunt talking to another older lady. "Oh yes she's beautiful, we'd be delighted to come for lunch". He tried to appear asleep but his heart was pounding, he was on display to a neighbour and had been invited for lunch!

Later, after the woman had gone his aunt re-entered the room. "What have you done Auntie, what have you agreed?" he said. "Oh it was just Mrs. Bean she often pops in to chat. She never bothers to knock just walks in. She had come to invite me for Sunday dinner after church, and as soon as she saw my 'lovely niece' you were included. Don't worry she's half-blind and a bit batty but is kind and cooks a lovely roast."

" But I can't go like this" He cried. "It was just a bit of fun between you and me"

"Oh don't be silly, you've nothing else to wear, you look marvellous, and most importantly I was going to take you out for dinner tomorrow so I've nothing in!"

"But I'll be a laughing stock, people will point and stare at a boy in girls clothes"

" Not if you believe in yourself, tonight you look like a girl, if you feel like one you'll pull it off no problem."

That night they drank a few beers and relaxed to the extent he forgot/accepted what he was wearing until it was time for bed. The full-length silky nightie was laid on the bed and felt gorgeous against his soft young skin and again he fell into a deep sleep.

Sunday dawned and he woke to sound of birdsong and his aunt clattering about in the kitchen downstairs. The silky finery wrapping his young body brought him around, " so it wasn't a dream" he thought. A matching robe was laid across the chair and he went down the stairs to get some breakfast.

"You look so lovely", she said, and he smiled, this dressing-up game felt so nice.

After they had eaten, she ushered him upstairs "come on now we'd better get you ready"; he pretended to protest but accepted his fate with nervous anticipation. "Now we've got to do this right for your sake, I know she's an old lady but we'll have to pass people in the street, and you will have to 'pass' ". She had him shave his face closely then his legs, they weren't very hairy and he was blonde but she was being thorough. Then after a basic manicure she painted his toe and finger nails a dark pink. Next the make-up, she was very sparing just hint of colour on his soft cheeks and a matching pink lipstick. "Now for some clothes young lady" she smiled at the girl that she was creating. A pair of light control briefs helped to maintain a smooth silhouette then she handed him a lovely lacy Warner's bra and matching suspender belt. They filled the bra with rolled up pantyhose and then she showed him how to pull on the cream gloss stockings. Electricity ran through his body as he touched the finery around his body. Finally a full slip and a floral print summer dress with long sleeves were slipped over his head and a pair of low-heeled cream shoes completed the ensemble. Still he had not seen himself, the anticipation was making him faint, "I'll just do your hair dear, then you can see". She combed his long hair back and styled it into wavy curls then some sprayed some lacquer to hold everything together. "Just one more thing" and after rooting in a small box she clipped on small diamond earrings and hung a necklace with a single stone on a fine gold chain upon him.

He saw a figure in the mirror. The figure was beautiful. The figure was a young girl demure and innocent. The figure was him.

"I'll just let you get used to this new look, practice walking in those shoes, it's not as easy as you think but you'll soon get the hang of it". She then left him alone while she got herself ready.

When she returned he asked, "why get ready so early?" Well my dear our invitation was for Sunday dinner after church, so we're going to the service first. I wasn't sure before but you look so good there is no need to worry". He was worried but reasoned that few young people go to church these days so there would only be a few old fogies to worry about.

He really didn't have much time to worry as they left for the short walk to the little slate church soon after going down from the bedroom. The weather was warm and fine there was no need for coat but he felt completely exposed when the breeze wafted around his stocking tops. He clung tightly to his aunt and whispered in her ear " should we really be doing this, what if I'm found out!"

"Relax dear, I know what you are, I dressed you and even I can't see the join, just relax and have fun fooling all these people". They reached the church and both smiling politely entered and sat down the congregation was much as he'd expected, old. They looked for Mrs. Bean but she had not yet arrived, then a really beautiful young girl dressed in a similar summer dress him sat down beside his aunt and a lady he recognised as Mrs Bean beside her. "Hello Mary may I introduce MY niece Karen. Karen this is Mrs Williams and her niece Susan". He was stunned into silence but mumbled a greeting, he had forgotten they'd agreed on the name Susan and he didn't know how he was going to handle this gorgeous girl who would surely see through his disguise.

 

To be continued……

 

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