The Male Debutantes' Pageant

by Annabel Naismith

 

Chapter Four

Next morning, Andy discussed the events of the previous evening with two of his friends, Sam and Dan, while he was waiting for the bus to go to school.

"I just finished dinner and then the three of them wanted to start dressing me up."

"What in a skirt and stuff?" asked Sam with a broad grin.

"Yeah."

"And then what? " asked Dan.

Andy kept quiet about having his hair done, make-up, leg-shaving, underwear and Dierdre. This information could be disseminated on a need to know basis.

"Well, they kept making me take things off and try other things on. It wasn't too bad, really. And I think Amy really likes me."

"Amy likes you, or Amy likes Mandy?" asked Sam.

Andy had to think for a brief while. "Well both, I think."

"Amy loves Mandy. Amy loves Mandy," chanted Sam.

Hearing Sam, two friends of Amy broke off their conversation with Amy and came over to address Sam.

"You wait till we've finished with you, Sally Sexton," said Abigail. Sam blushed furiously at the mention of his female name in the pageant.

"Yeah," said her friend Alison. "Andy is letting himself go and he's enjoying himself. You shouldn't knock it till you've tried it."

Dan was keeping quiet. He was quite slim and, at five feet three inches, he was small for his age, smaller and weaker than the girls who had been assigned him as their debutante.

"And I hope we won't get any trouble from you, Danniella Dropsham," said Abigail to Dan, "or we'll make sure Jess and Kirsty give you a hard time."

Dan was acutely embarrassed by the surname (pronounced Drops'em). Jess was known to be a practical joker and Dan was afraid that his girlfriend, Kirsty would be led all to easily into embarrassing him. He had a nasty feeling from the name that they were going to make him look like a slut.

Amy had joined the group. "Hi Andy, how are you this morning?" she smiled at Andy.

"Fine," said Andy, blushing as he remembered the good-night kiss from Amy the previous evening.

"Would you like to come round this evening after dinner? Mum said it would be OK," invited Amy.

"Yeah, OK," said Andy. Sam and Dan exchanged knowing glances.

"Fab," said Amy, then she whispered, "you will come as Mandy, won't you?"

"Er, OK, whatever," mumbled Andy.

The bus rumbled carefully round the corner of the lane and the rabble of teenagers boarded it. For the first time, Amy sat next to Andy, something that was remarked on by Sam and Dan.

"Looks like Amy does like Andy," observed Dan.

"Do you think she's a lezzie and only likes him 'cos she likes him in a dress?" asked Sam.

"Dunno. I expect we'll find out. We can't really take the mickey too much or the other girls will give us a hard time. And the other guys at school will too."

All through the school day Andy was unable to concentrate. He was looking forward to spending time with Amy but part of him was dreading dressing as Mandy. Another part of him was looking forward to wearing make-up, girl's underwear and a dress. What really worried him most was looking forward to dressing as a girl. He wondered if any of the other entrants in the pageant were thinking the same thing but he was much to shy to ask. He was quite sure that Sam and Dan had not been dressed yet, so they would not know how he felt.

Andy and Amy caught the same bus home in the afternoon and they walked home along the lane together.

"Andy, how do really feel about being Mandy?" asked Amy.

"I dunno really. I haven't really thought about it," lied Andy.

"It's just, well, girls can dress like boys and do boy things like wear boys' clothes and play football but if a boy wants to do girl things, people say he's a sissy. I don't think you're a sissy. I think you're really brave."

Andy didn't say anything, so Amy continued.

"How do feel wearing the clothes and make-up?"

"I didn't like it when Susie put the make-up on."

"I can understand that, I hated it when she used to do it to me. You'll find it easier when you do it for yourself. Did you like the way you looked with it though?"

"Well, I was surprised how much like a girl I looked."

"Pleasantly surprised?" pressed Amy.

"Yes," conceded Andy.

"Fab. And the clothes, which clothes did you like best?"

"I liked the underwear. The bra, the tights and the slip all felt so different to my usual clothes. And I liked the feel of the skirts arould my legs. I didn't like heels very much because walking is different." Andy surprised himself with his eloquence.

"Which fabrics did you like?" Amy continued to press.

"Er, I dunno, the soft ones. They're more different from boy clothes."

They reached Andy's house. Amy gave his hand a squeeze.

"See you later Mandy," she said with a shy smile.

"Er yeah, bye," said an embarrassed Andy.

Andy went into the house and found his sister and mother.

"Hi mum, Hi Karen," greeted Andy.

The greeting was returned.

"Amy asked if I can go round after dinner," said Andy.

"Yes of course Mandy can go round," said his mother, emphasising Mandy.

"But I've got a driving lesson from 6 till 7," said Karen.

"Well I'm sure I can get Mandy presentable and if I know Amy, she'll want to try Mandy in different outfits," said mum. Then a thought occurred, "I'd better ring Jo to make sure Mandy won't be undressing in Amy's bedroom unsupervised."

Andy finished his dinner quickly and went for a shower. He found some clean panties from the purchases his mother made the previous day, together with a pair of tights and the slip. His bra again proved more tricky. He once again failed to get it on and yelled to his mother for assistance.

"Mu-umm, can you help please."

His mother looked at her partially feminized son and smiled fondly.

"The easiest way to put a bra on is to hold it round your stomach while you fasten it, then pop your arms through and lift it into position."

Andy tried and succeeded.

"Come into my room and let me dry your hair." Andy sat at his mother's vanity while she blow-dried his hair.

"Now, try doing your own make-up. Not too much, just a bit of blusher. Start at the centre of your cheeks and work up and back" Andy used a fluffy brush to apply blusher under the watchful gaze of his mother.

"That's it. Now try some eyeshadow. Use the bigger brush for your eyelids and this colour" She pointed to the coloured powder and Andy applied some light eyeshadow with a wide flat eyeshadow brush.

"OK, now you need a smaller brush and some of his slightly darker colour." Andy used a smaller brush to apply the slightly darker colour under his eyes, from the lash-line to the crease of the eye.

"And lastly, lipstick." Andy carefully applied the pale pink tube to his lips, rubbing them together to ensure that his lips were coated evenly.

"Welcome back Mandy!" said his mother giving her younger daughter a hug. Mandy got up from the vanity.

"What shall I wear mum?" she asked.

"Why not wear that knee-length black skirt and red top you wore when you met me yesterday evening. That will go nicely with those shoes."

Mandy went back to her room and put on the skirt and top, then went downstairs.

"Do I look OK?" asked Mandy anxiously. Her mother smiled thinking what a typical question for a shy daughter to ask.

"You look lovely, dear but just come upstairs to my room for a minute Mandy. I think I may have something that will make your skirt fit better."

"Now Mandy, take off your slip, skirt and pull your tights down, then put this girdle on." Mandy struggled into the highly-elasticated tube and pulled it up to her waist. Next she pulled the tights back up and stepped into the slip, then the skirt and pulled them up. She was surprised how much more easily she found it to fasten the button on the back of the skirt.

"That looks much better, how does it feel?"

"OK but the girdle is a bit tight."

"It will be, you have a boy's waist but that will help to give you more of girl's figure and make your skirt fit better. Are you ready to go now?"

"Mum, can you give me a lift to Amy's house."

"Oh don't be ridiculous Mandy, it's just along the lane."

"But what if someone sees me?"

"They'll see a pretty girl. Tell you what though, I'll walk with you along the lane."

So mother and her still rather nervous daughter walked the hundred yards to Amy's house. Mandy got further instructions on how a girl should walk.

"If you keep in step with me, Mandy you will be OK. Try to point your foot downwards a bit, so you don't clump down on your heels. Try to make your feet hit the ground so your heels are in front of your stomach. And keep your elbows close to your waist." Mandy adjusted the length of her steps down to those of her mother. At the same time she pointed her toes so they landed on the ground at the same time as her heels. She was careful to place her heels in front of her stomach. It was a lot to take in but she was getting the hang of it. She was also aware of the fact walking like this made her hips sway from side to side and she felt her skirt sway. It felt really sexy. Mandy was quite disappointed when they reached Amy's house and his mother knocked at the door.

"Hi Jane, Hi Mandy," greeted Jo, "come in. We were expecting you."

There was a commotion on the stairs as, to Mandy's horror, not just Amy but Abigail and Alison thundered to meet her.

"Hi Mandy," said Amy, "you look brilliant. Abi and Ali just had to see you. You don't mind do you?"

"Mandy, you look great," said Abigail.

"Gosh, I never would have recognized you," agreed Alison.

"Hi," said Mandy.

"Go on give us a twirl," said Abigail.

Mandy gave a much better twirl than her effort the previous evening.

Mandy was just completing her twirl when there was a sudden flash.

"Say cheese, Mandy," said Amy, pointing her digital camera at her again. Mandy was horror stricken but had no option other than to smile nervously and hope that photographic evidence of her plight would not soon be published to all Andy's worst enemies.

"Now I hope you aren't going to blackmail poor Mandy," said Jo to her daughter as the flash went for a second time.

"No, mum, but I just had to get a picture of my newest friend. Can you take one of all four of us girls, please mum."

The three other girls huddled together with Mandy and the flash went off again.

"Can you let me have a copy of the photos, please Amy," said Jane. "I don't have any pictures of my new daughter yet."

"Oh yes," said Amy, "let's download them now." With that the four girls went to the computer in the back living room and started attaching the camera to it. A few minutes later, they returned with copies of the photos they had taken.

Jane heard a familiar beeping from her cell-phone. "Oh, Richard needs me to pick him up from the station," she said as she read the text message. "Mandy, will you be OK here with the other girls for half an hour?"

"Yes, mum."

"OK see you later, bye everyone." Jane left with the pictures of her new daughter.

"I know," said Amy, "let's try some different outfits on. Then we can take some more pictures."

She raced upstairs, followed by Abigail, Alison and Mandy.

Jo smiled and went to prepare a meal for her older daughter, Susie. Susie had been to choir practice at school and was being given a lift home.

Upstairs in Amy's room the Amy told Mandy to take her skirt and top off. Mandy was a bit reluctant.

"But I saw everything yesterday," she said.

"No!!" sqealed Abigail and Alison in unison, both equally shocked by this revelation.

"No you didn't, I always had underwear on," countered Mandy.

"Well OK, but girl's underwear," continued Amy.

"She's wearing girl's underwear?" queried Abigail.

"Ooh Mandy," said Alison teasingly "you are getting in touch with your girly side." Then she noticed how embarrassed Mandy was. "Good for you," she added.

"Tell you what Mandy," said Amy, "if you take your top and skirt off, then we will. We're all girls together then."

"Oh OK." said Mandy.

Soon there were four girls in their underwear.

"Your boobs look really lifelike," said Abigail, moving forward to feel them. Mandy shied away.

"I don't go groping your boobs," she said.

"Would you like to?" asked Abigail, provocatively wiggling them in Mandy's direction.

"Abi!" Amy was shocked

"No thank you," declined Mandy.

"His mum bought breast forms," informed Amy.

"Go on, slip one out, I've never seen one," said Alison.

Mandy took out one of the forms and passed it to Alison.

"It's quite heavy isn't it," she said as she passed it to Abigail.

"Hmm, it feels lifelike too," observed Abigail.

"Can I have it back now, please?" asked Mandy.

"Here you are, we don't want you all lopsided," said Abigail with a grin.

Mandy slipped the breastform back into the cup of her bra, and jiggled her boobs to make sure it was properly seated. The other girls mimicked her action and all four girls jiggled and giggled for a minute.

"Do you want to take your tights off as well," Amy said to Mandy. "That dark colour won't go with the other things."

As Mandy pulled down her tights the other girls noticed her girdle.

"Oh wow," said Amy, "you didn't have that yesterday did you?"

"No, my mum only gave it to me this evening. She said it would give me more of a girl's figure."

The other girls looked at Mandy critically.

"It does a bit," said Abigail thoughfully, "actually, if I didn't know I would never guess that Mandy was really a boy, even in just her underwear. You should come shopping with us on Saturday."

"Oh yeah, that would be brilliant," said Amy, her eyes bright with excitement.

"What, dressed as a girl?" Mandy was incredulous.

"Well of course dressed as a girl," said Abigail. "And maybe Sally can come too."

"Who's Sally?" asked Amy.

"Sally Sexton," replied Abigail, "sometimes known as Sam. Her name is short for Sally Sexton-night-please-darling but she doesn't know it yet."

"Sex tonight please darling?" queried Amy, "that's a bit rude isn't it?"

"Oh it's only a bit of harmless fun," said Alison reassuringly. Mandy was feeling glad that she was not going to be subjected to that sort of humiliation.

"How could we get Sally to come out?" wondered Abigail. "I think it would be much nicer for Mandy if Sally came shopping too. How do you feel Mandy? Would you rather Sally came too?"

"I'm not really bothered if she comes with us or not." said Mandy, then suddenly realised she had inadvertently accepted their invitation to go shopping. The girls made the realization at the same time.

"Oh well, it'll just be us four this week," said Amy. "You're so brave Mandy, I'm really proud of you." With that she gave Mandy a kiss on the cheek.

The girls then decided it was time to start dressing Mandy up to see what she looked like in different outfits.

"Try this on, Mandy," said Amy passing her a tennis skirt. Mandy looked at it and worked out that it wrapped around and fastened with two buttons in the waistband. It was short, reaching barely a third of the way down her thigh. It was pleated at the back and had a straight panel in the front. Amy passed Mandy a plain white top, which she slipped over her head and tucked into the skirt. Then she passed her a pair of white tennis shoes with pink flashes. Mandy put them on as well, they were a bit tight but she was able to get them on. The camera flashed. Abigail found a tennis racket and Mandy posed with the racket as well.

Mandy was starting to enjoy herself. She was having fun with her new friends. All the girls had fun trying on different outfits and posing for the camera. It was not long before they all forgot that Mandy was not really a real girl and the other girls started discussing boys; which boys in pop groups were cool, which were gross. The conversation switched to boys at school. Most of the boys in their school year were gross. Mandy was amazed; she had never heard a conversation like it. It was a relevation to her how girls thought about boys and which boys they found attractive

After half an hour or so, there was a knock on Mandy's door. Susie had finished choir practice and Karen had completed her driving lesson and both decided to check on their protégée. The two older girls were completely unfazed to find the four younger girls in their underwear and a sea of clothes on Amy's bed. Karen and Susie went to Susie's room to see if they could find something different for Mandy to wear.

They returned with some dresses; a couple of sundresses and two evening dresses. Mandy tried on one of the evening dresses. It was bright scarlet, quite short, reaching a few inches above the knee, and had a tight bodice and spaghetti straps. Karen looked at the effect - something was wrong - she sat Mandy down and adjusted her hair, combing the back up and pinning it up, hoding it in place with a couple of hair grips.

"Wow, that is stunning," said Susie, deeply impressed.

The camera flashed again as Mandy smiled naturally. The girls gathered round the camera to see the picture display on the back of the camera.

"We're going to have a battle to get Sally up to this standard, Abi," observed Alison to her team-mate in the pageant competition.

"Can Mandy borrow your red shoes?" Amy asked her sister.

"Good thinking, I'll get them." Susie hurried back to her room and returned with the strappy red sandals. Susie's feet were a size bigger than Amy's so they were a good fit for Mandy. The 4 inch heels were a new experience for Mandy, though and she felt very tall as she looked down on her sister for the first time in her life.

"You need a bit more make-up, I think," said Susie and grabbed an eyeliner pencil from Amy's vanity.

"Can I do it?" asked Mandy, "I did the rest of my make with mum watching."

"OK," said Susie, "sit close to the mirror. Press under your bottom eyelid and follow the line of your eyelash. Now do the same with your top eyelash. That's it, now do the same with the other eye." Susie examined Mandy's effort carefully. "It's a bit uneven but very good for a first attempt. Would you like to try putting on mascara?"

Mandy nodded and Susie showed her how to apply mascara.

"She's a natural," said Abigail, clearly impressed at Mandy's efforts.

"You look really good," said Amy.

"Just nail varnish and the right colour lipstick for the dress and you will take a lot of beating in the pageant," said Karen. "Where's that camera. Mum won't believe this!." The camera flashed again.

The party was disturbed by a call from below announcing the arrival of Abigail's mother to collect Abigail and Alison.

"Come on Mandy," said Abigail, "you've got to show my mum."

The six girls went downstairs and the one in the heels was by far the slowest.

"Hi mum, meet Mandy," said Abigail, gesturing towards Mandy, who was still carefully negotiating the last few steps in her unfamiliar heels.

"Hello Mandy,"

"Hello Mrs Jones," replied Mandy.

"You look very convincing; the girls have done a remarkable job."

"Actually she did her own make-up," said Susie. "We just gave a bit of guidance."

"Well, you've done a remarkable job. I wish Abi would look as nice as you sometimes."

"Thanks mum!"

"Come on, let's get you home," said Mrs Jones to Abigail and Alison.

"We had better get home too," said Karen. "would it be OK for Mandy to wear that dress home to show mum?"

"Yes that's fine, bring it back whenever," said Susie.

Mandy and Amy said goodnight to each other with a hug and a quick kiss. They both wished they could spend some time alone together but neither wanted to say so in front of the others.

 

Chapter 5

On Wednesday morning Amy sat next to Andy on the bus on the way to school and they met up again after school finished. In the evening, after he got home from school, Andy became Mandy. As soon as he got home, he had a shower and got either his mum to blow dry his hair. Then he dressed in panties, bra, girdle, tights, applied some make-up and finally put on a skirt and top.

Amy came to visit Mandy on Wednesday evening. She brought some magazines for Mandy to study to help her think like a girl. She and Mandy spent a couple of hours listening to music and reading the magazines. Mandy was getting quite interested in the different looks that could be achieved with different make-up and borrowed various items from his mum and Karen as well as Amy.

Amy was not the only new girl in the Jacobs household; Dierdre appeared too. After dinner she tidied the kitchen. Jane, Mandy's mum, was more than happy with the arrangement. She was happy to wear slacks and sit watching the television, while Dierdre acted the part of the housewife.

After Dierdre had finished tidying the kitchen she made a point of checking on the youngsters. She knocked on the Mandy's bedroom door.

"Mandy, old chap," she called, "would you two young ladies like a drink and some cookies?"

"Yes please Dad,er, Dierdre."

"Jolly good, can I come in?"

"Yes. The door's open."

Dierdre entered. She was wearing her usual outfit of white blouse and black skirt and flat heeled black patent leather shoes and this evening, she was wearing a bright yellow apron, with frills around the edge.

"Here we are, may I join you for a bit?"

"You look nice Mr, er, Dierdre."

"Thank you Amy, that's very nice of you to say so."

Amy and Mandy were sitting on the bed so Dierdre sat on the rather low chair by Mandy's desk. She neglected to place her feet close enough together when sitting and only remembered after she had sat down that she should keep her knees together. Feeling the need to rectify the situation, she crossed her legs. Unfortunately, there was a considerable gap between her knees as she did so but Amy and Mandy were too well-mannered to stare at the flash of underwear.

"How are you finding being Dierdre?" asked Amy.

"I'm starting to get used to it, actually," she replied. "Jane wanted me to give it a go, you know, so Mandy wouldn't feel like a bit of a sissy."

"I think you're both so brave. It's much more fun being a girl. Every boy should try it. You can try different looks with make-up and clothes and hair and everything. Mandy and I have been trying to work out the best look for the pageant but we've been thinking of other looks as well. She likes this one." Amy showed Dierdre a picture in the magazine.

"That's very nice. You're going to try to look like that, are you Mandy?" Dierdre sounded dubious.

"Well we thought it would be interesting try and do something like that," said Mandy.

"You're more creative than I am. I wish I could do something as creative as that."

"Oh I bet we could!" said Amy, seeing an opportunity. "If you want to try and get creative with make-up ask my sister, Susie. She's a genius with make-up."

"Oh I think I'm too old for that sort of thing."

"I think you should give it a try Dad,er, Dierdre. I thought I was going to look like a joke and I'm happy with the way Susie made me up."

"Well, we'll see. I wonder if Jane will let me. She's the boss now, it seems," said Dierdre a little wistfully.

"I'm sure she will if we ask her," said Amy enthusiastically. "She might let you get dressed really well and go to a big dinner wih her as the man and you as the lady, with a really posh frock and everything. That would be fun."

"Me in a posh frock. Hmm, I'm not sure Jane will approve of that. I think I might need some help persuading her. But you never know."

"I think Karen and me will have to help you there, Da, er, Dierdre," said Mandy thoughtfully.

"Oh well, I'd better get on, I suppose. I think there's some ironing needing my input. I never realised how long ironing can take. See you later." Dierdre rose, rather inelegantly, and left the room, leaving Mandy and Amy to continue Mandy's education in the finer points of being a girl.

 

Chapter 5

On Thursday morning Dan tried to get Andy's attention while they waited for the bus.

"Hey Andy, come here a minute."

Andy was a little disappointed. He had been looking forward to spending time with Amy and sitting next to her on the bus. He walked over to his friend.

"Hi Dan, what's up?"

"Well you know Abi and Ali saw you dressed as a girl the other night. And they thought you looked really good."

"Yeah. So what?" Andy was not too happy about his preparations for the pageant becoming common knowledge.

"Well, they told Kirsty and Kirsty told Jess. And now Jess thought I should dress as girl all the time except when we're in school. And Kirsty thinks it's a great idea."

"What do you think? It's not that bad. You get to see a different side of girls - at least that's what I'm finding."

"Well it's OK for you. Amy and your sister are nice to you. I think Jess is out to set me up - you know for a joke."

"Kirsty wouldn't let her, would she?"

"I don't know. Jess can be pretty bitchy and she's much bigger than me. She might get me to dress in something terrible and show me up in front of everyone."

"Can't you just avoid them?"

"Well I could - but I really like Kirsty and we've not been going out that long. Jess knows I'm going round to Kirsty's tonight. Could you come round as well so, if Jess turns up, at least there will be two of us?"

The conversation was halted by the bus arriving. Amy found Andy.

"Hi Andy," she said brightly.

"Hi Amy," began Andy as they got onto the bus, "how do you feel about going round to Kirsty's this evening?"

"Yeah, that'd be groovy. Three girls together."

"I've got to go as Andy."

"Oh but you can't - your mum said you've got to be Mandy. And I like Mandy. Mandy's my new best friend." Amy gave Andy's arm a squeeze.

"But Dan will be there."

"So what? We can all help him to be Daniella, it'll be fun. Four girls together."

Andy realised he was beaten. Either he went to Kirsty's as Mandy or he didn't go at all.

Andy managed to find Dan between lessons at school and give him the news that he might be able to come to Kirsty's house that evening but only dressed as Mandy.

In truth, Andy was a bit nervous of Jess. Now Jess knew he was dressing as a girl outside school, his credibility was hanging by a thread. Being seen by Abigail and Alison had been pretty scary but at least they were OK and had welcomed Mandy as a friend. Jess would see Mandy as something to ridicule.

Dan was still keen for either Andy or Mandy to come to Kirsty's. Eventually, it was agreed that Dan, Mandy and Amy would all go to Kirsty's at six o'clock that evening.

After school, Andy became Mandy and at five o'clock Amy came round to help with the finishing touches of Mandy's "look".

"Can you give us a lift to Kirsty's? We need to be there at about six," said Mandy to her mother.

"Oh! but mum," said Karen, "you promised to take me driving and we were going to pick Dad up from the station."

"Yes that's right. I do wish you wouldn't spring things like this on me, Mandy. I'll give you a lift after we get back. You shouldn't be too late."

So Mandy and Amy wached tv while they waited for Mandy's sister and parents to return. Time passed, six o'clock became six thirty, then seven o'clock. Mandy was getting a bit concerned, so she decided to telephone her mother's mobile phone.

"Hi mum?"

"Hello, Mandy, sorry we're a bit late. There was a problem on the trains and we're just leaving the station now. We'll be home in twenty minutes or so."

So it was not until half past seven that Mandy and Amy finally reached Kirsty's house. Mandy recognised Jess's bike lying on the front drive and her heart sank. They knocked on the door and after a few seconds Kirsty answered it.

"Hi Amy - and you must be Mandy," she said with a huge grin, as she realised, after a second look, that she was speaking to a feminized boy.

"Hi Kirsty."

"Come in. Jess is here and there is another girl for you to meet."

Mandy was suddenly struck by a dreadful foreboding that Dan's worries had been well-founded. They entered the living room and saw the tall, broad-shouldered figure of Jess, wearing three quarter length jeans and cap sleeve T. Behind her was Dan.

As Dan had feared, he had indeed been made to dress as a girl.

"Meet Danniella," said Kirsty

"Hi Jess. Hi Danniella," said Amy. Mandy was at a loss for words. Daniella was wearing a white tiered dress adorned with lace and wide pink ribbon around the high waist. The flared skirts of the dress reached barely half way to her knees and were held out by layers of lace and satin petticoats. She was wearing white ankle socks with lace and white sandals in a very childish style. Her face and hair were as normal, except that it looked as if she might have been crying. The effect was unmistakably a boy in a childish dress.

"Ooh, another sissy boy in a frock," greeted Jess referring to Mandy. Mandy blushed.

"Don't be horrible," said Amy. "Mandy's really nice and she's my friend. If you were nice to her, she would be your friend too."

"I've got plenty of friends. I don't a friend like her." Jess emphasized the word "her" sneeringly.

"There's another thing I've got plenty of too," added Jess triumphantly. "Photographs. Photographs of Daniella in her dress and photographs of her showing her frilly little girl knickers and petticoats. Daniella is going to be my friend now. Aren't you Daniella?"

"Yes," said Daniella quietly.

"Yes what?"

"Yes, Master Jess."

"Speak up girl, they can't hear you properly."

"Yes, Master Jess," said Danniella more loudly.

"I think I'll just get a couple of snaps of the other sissy before I go." With that Jess took out her camera and took a couple of pictures of Mandy.

"Bye everyone, see you tomorrow Kirsty. And don't forget you're doing my maths homework Danniella. And you'd better do it properly, with nice girly writing, or these pictures might just get all round the school."

Jess walked purposely out of the room, waving her camera in triumph. The front door closed and Jess was gone.

Daniella burst into tears. Amy want to give her a consoling hug.

"The cow! The fucking bitch!" Kirsty did not normally swear but this was one of those special occasions.

"I'm so sorry Danni." Kirsty went to Danniella and hugged her.

"How did it happen?" asked Mandy.

"Well," replied Kirsty, "it was partly my fault. Dan came round like he always does on Thursdays because my parents always go out for dinner. Well, Jess knew and she came round as well. Jess suggested we start to get Danni ready for the pageant and I thought it would be a good idea. So he agreed to try on one of my skirts and a top and it fitted OK. Then she got that fucking camera out and she took a picture. Because poor Danni didn't have any make-up on he looked like Dan in a skirt. Then Jess started threatening. Then she got that dress out of her bag. I know Jess was quite fat when she was nine or ten - she must have had it ever since then. I've never seen her wear anything like it. Well, she threatened Danni that if she didn't wear the petticoat she would show everyone the pictures of Dan in a skirt. Then she took another picture of Dan in a petticoat and so it went on - she made him lift the skirt and petticoats to show the frilly knickers. Oh Danni, I'm so, so sorry." Kirsty kissed the cheek of the still sobbing Danni.

"What am I going to do?" sobbed Danniella. "I'll never be able to go to school. The other guys think I'm a sissy anyway because I'm not very big and I'm crap at football."

"It's OK," said Amy with her arm still round Danniella's shoulder consolingly.

"What would make people think you're cool and not a sissy?" asked Mandy thoughtfully. "We have to accept that the photographs may get out and may get seen by everyone."

"I'm fucked. I'm totally screwed. I'm never wearing a dress again. Get me out of this fucking dress and get me back into some normal clothes." Danniella's sobs were replaced by anger. Kirsty and Amy unzipped the dress and Dan tore it off, then he fought his way out of the petticoat. It was a full petticoat with a bodice so he had to lift it over his head. He stood in the living room in just frilly panties, white sandals and frilly ankle socks.

The front door opened.

"Hi Kirsty, Hi Dan, we're back" called Kirsty's mum.

"Oh fuck," whispered Kirsty. "Hi Mum," she called. She continued quietly. "Get behind the sofa, Dan. I'll get your jeans - they're in my room and get that fucking dress out of here."

Dan was in state of complete panic. Mandy was bewildered.

Amy had the presence of mind to go into the hall and engage Kirsty's mum in conversation to give Dan a chance to hide.

"Hello Mrs Davis,"

"Hello Amy, I haven't seen you for a while. How are you?"

"Fine thanks, we just got here because we had to wait for our lift. How was your dinner?"

"Very nice, thank you."

Dan was beside himself behind the sofa in the living room, listening to these genteel pleasantries. "Someone get me some fucking trousers for fuck's sake." came quietly from between his gritted teeth, as he removed the hideous sandals and the loathsome ankle socks. Mandy was still bewildered The dress and petticoat were still on the living room floor. In a sudden burst of activity, Mandy kicked the dress and petticoat out of sight behind the settee, kicking Dan in the process.

"Fuck," said Dan.

"Sorry," said Mandy.

Kirsty arrived with Dan's jeans and a red T. Not Dan's red t-shirt but a red T. Dan hurried to get his jeans on at least, as Amy and Mrs Davis continued their conversation on the various merits of Chinese, Indian, Italian and French cuisine.

Mrs Davis at last came into the living room just as Dan got the top on. Dan realised that something was unfamiliar about the top as het pulled down as far as it would go. Instead of being nice and baggy and reaching reassuringly below his groin, it barely reached his navel.

"Hi Dan," said Mrs Davis, reading the motif on the top he was wearing. It proclaimed the wearer was a Hot Chick. "That's a nice top, Dan. Kirsty's got one just like it."

"Hi - er yes it's hers. Mine got a bit wet. Some drink got spilt on it."

"And you are?" Mrs Davis looked enquiringly at Mandy.

"This is Mandy," said Amy, "she's just come to live along the lane from me."

"Hello Mrs Davis," said Mandy shyly.

"It's nice to meet you Mandy. Are you going to school with Kirsty and the others."

"Yes, that's right," said Mandy uncertainly.

Mrs Davis looked around the room. There was an atmosphere. The sort of atmosphere a mother can always sense; she knows that something has been happening but she does not know what - yet. She would have to keep her eyes open for any tell-tale signs. There was something about Dan's behaviour that was not quite right. Had he been crying? His eyes were red and swollen; they undoubtedly looked as if he had. And what was the real reason for him to be wearing Kirsty's top and no socks? Mandy seemed a very nice, pretty girl, if unusually shy, and somehow self-conscious; as if she were a tom-boy and not used to wearing a skirt.

Kirsty's dad came into the living room having parked the car in the garage.

"Hi kids."

"Hi dad."

"Hi Mr Davis."

"Come on, let's go to my room and listen to some music," said Kirsty, realising that there was an awkward pause.

"Let me get my dress," said Amy, reaching behind the sofa for the dress and petticoat.

"That's a nice dress, Amy. Isn't it a bit young for you?"

"Yes, I wore it when I was a bridesmaid."

"What's it doing behind sofa?" There was an awkward pause.

"Everything's got to be somewhere," offered her husband irrelevantly. He received a glare from his wife but no answer came from the youngsters. They just vanished upstairs.

Mrs Davis racked her brains. Why was the dress behind the sofa and why had Dan been crying? Had Dan been wearing the dress? Surely not. It was the wrong shape for Amy; she had always been thin and it seemed to fit a fatter girl than she is now. The dress was far too short to be a bridesmaid's dress for a girl as tall as she is. There must have been a reason for all these events but a piece was missing from the puzzle. Who really owned the dress? She looked behind the sofa and found the shoes and socks. Which of the youngsters had not been wearing shoes and socks? That clinched it - Dan had been wearing the dress.

Upstairs the youngsters were anxiously assessing the situation.

Dan was still desperate. He was in an impossible situation. It was inconceivable that he would be able to escape from the clutches of Jess.

Mandy felt that she too might be a victim of blackmail but she was confident she did not look like a boy in a dress. However it was still very worrying.

Kirsty and Amy were trying to think of ways to get the dress out of the house, so as not to leave evidence for Kirsty's mother.

Mrs Davis went upstairs and knocked on Kirsty's door.

"Dan, you forgot your shoes and socks."

Silence.

"Can I come in?"

"Come in mum," said Kirsty.

"Tell me the truth Kirsty. Why was Dan wearing a little girl's dress and why was he crying?"

The four teenagers sat on the bed and looked up at Kirsty's mother. She didn't seem angry, she just wanted to know what had happened.

"Well," began Kirsty, "the youth club is going to a have beauty pageant with boys as the contestants."

"Go on."

"We thought it would be fun to have a trial run."

"So Dan wore a dress. But why was Dan crying? I know eyes that have been crying when I see them."

"Jess was here and she got photographs of Dan in the dress. She's threatening him, you know, like blackmail."

"So what are you going to do Dan?"

"I don't know. What can I do?"

"You should have thought of that before you put a dress on in front of Jess. Jess of all people! Oh well, you will have to face the conequences of your actions. The worst thing that can happen is that people will see the pictures. You need to think about how you will cope with that." She noticed something on the floor. "Those boxers aren't yours are they Kirsty? So are still wearing girl's knickers Dan?"

Dan nodded.

"And I suppose Jess has photographs of you wearing girl's knickers?"

Dan nodded again.

Mrs Davis shook her head. "Go in the bathroom and change back into your own underwear. Put the girl's knickers in the laundry basket and we'll wash them. It will be something you won't have to explain to your mother."

Dan went from Kirsty's room, picking his boxers up as he did so. Mrs Davis looked enquiringly at Mandy. No, she was definitely a girl; a bit shy and awkward certainly but she definitely carried herself like a girl and her mannerisms all said girl.

"Is Dan all right? Do you think I should talk to his mother?"

"I don't know," replied Kirsty, "I think she drinks quite a lot so I don't know how useful that would be. And his father is a builder, so he would not want people to know that his son wears dresses. I hope he'll be OK."

"OK Kirsty, but if it will help, I'll gladly have a word with them." Mrs Davis left the room leaving the three girls to wonder how they were going to help Dan.

Dan returned from the bathroom and not long afterwards Jo arrived to collect her daughter, Amy, and give Mandy and Dan a lift home.

Dan sat glumly in the car as it drove through the spring twilight to his home. Mandy and Amy sat in the back seat of the car holding hands and wishing they could think of a way to help Dan.

To be continued

  

  

  

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