Sister, Sister, Sister

by Missy Crystal

 

Beth and I sat on her bed across from Mom and Susie.

"Okay, Mom. What's the big surprise?" Beth said excitedly.

"Yes, please tell us," Susie chimed in.

"Well," Mom said with a dramatic pause, keeping us in suspense. "Jenny's real birthday is next week. Remember Mr. Kenneth said for us to come back and he would do our hair?

"Yes, Mom, yes, we remember!" All of us were bouncing up and down with anticipation.

Even Mom sounded excited. "I spoke to Mr. Kenneth. For Jenny's birthday, you are getting your hair done this Saturday!"

"All of us?" Susie asked. "Me too?"

"Yes, Sweetie, all three of you," Mom told her.

"You too?" Beth asked.

"Hmmm, Mom said thoughtfully, you, know, I never really thought about it. I assumed he would just do you girls. It would be too much to ask him to do me too. Besides," Mom said with a smile, "if I remember correctly, he said I was hopeless."

We all laughed.

"Now then, Susie needs to get to bed and you girls have homework to do. So scoot."

Beth went to her closet to change. I walked over and asked her to unzip my dress, rather than struggle the way I had putting it on. She unfastened the hook at the neck and then zipped it down to my waist. I slipped it off and stood there in my pantyhose and bra. Beth had taken off her top and skirt and she was in her panties and bra. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world for her to be helping me get undressed and for me to be standing in front of my mother and sisters in girl's underwear. I walked over to the closet and hung up the dress. Then I went back to my room. I sat on the edge of my bed and carefully peeled off my pantyhose. I slipped my nightgown on and went down to the kitchen to do my homework. Beth was already at the table. She looked up and smiled. I smiled back at her.

"Need any help, Sis?" she asked.

"No thanks, Beth," I replied. "Now that I am paying attention in class and keeping up with the assignments, it's really easy."

"My sister the brain," Beth joked.

"No," I kidded back. "It's just that girls are smarter than boys."

We both started giggling so loud that Mom called down to find out what the racket was about.

"Nothing Mom," Beth and I called up to her.

"Just a girl thing," Beth added.

And we both broke up again.

The next morning I made doubly sure that Johnny went to school and Jenny stayed home. I hated putting on my boy's plain white cotton briefs and t-shirt, but I was determined not to make any more mistakes that could get Mom or me in trouble. Even worse, that might force me to stop being Jenny. I looked at my nails to make sure that there was no trace of polish, studied my face in the mirror to be sure that all of my makeup was off, and pulled back my hair to double check that my earrings were out.

As usual, Mom was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready. She looked up when she heard me pull the chair out.

"My goodness," she exclaimed. "You're the early bird this morning. Susie's not down yet. Is something wrong, Jenny?"

"No, Mom," I assured her. "I learned my lesson yesterday when Mrs. McGowan found me out. If I have to go to school as Johnny, so I can be Jenny the rest of the time, that's just what I'll do. No more mess ups."

Mom beamed at me. "That's my girl!"

I just about melted.

The touching mother-daughter moment was interrupted by Susie bounding in.

"Hi, Mom. Hi…," she paused. "Johnny," she said very pleased with herself, because she remembered that I was her brother when I was dressed as a boy.

"Hi my little sister who I adore no matter what," I told her.

She gave me a big smile and walked over.

"I don't usually kiss boys," she said with a serious face. "In fact, I don't ever kiss boys. No matter what," she mimicked. Then she came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I was overcome by her simple expression of acceptance of me as a girl. I reached out and gave her a hug. She snuggled up to me for a second, then in typical little girl fashion her mood changed and she squirmed out of my arms.

We finished our breakfast and headed for the bus. The trip to school was the same as always. The boys I used to hang out with after school had given up on me, so I found an empty seat and kept to myself. I thought about what happened yesterday, when I forgot I had gym and wore my girl's underwear, and decided that I should thank Mrs. McGowan for helping me. As soon as the bus stopped, I headed upstairs to her office.

When I got to the door, I paused. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. I turned to leave. No, I thought, being honest about my feelings had worked so far. I turned around and opened the door. Mrs. McGown was sitting at her desk. Usually she gave me a big hello, since she and Mom were both nurses and knew each other, but today she just looked at me without showing any emotion.

"Hi, Mrs. McGowan," I said politely.

"Johnny, I am surprised to see you here. Didn't your mother tell you I spoke to her about you?"

"Yes, she did Mrs. McGowan," I said quietly, looking down. Then I got my courage up and looked at her. "I just wanted to say thank you and tell you that you don't have to worry about me. There won't be any more problems."

She stood up. "Johnny, part of my job as the school nurse is to report abuse. Not just physical abuse. Emotional abuse too."

She must have seen my face drop.

"Oh no, Mrs. McGowan, please," I blurted out. "Please. Don't do anything. I learned my lesson. It won't happen again. Really. I promise." I was close to tears.

"Calm down, Johnny," she said as she came around her desk to stand next to me. "Here." She handed me a box of tissues.

I took one out and wiped my eyes. She must have realized how upset I was, because her voice became much gentler.

"My job isn't to judge you or your mother. Only to make sure that whatever is going on isn't harmful to you. I wanted to check with your teacher's to see how it was affecting your schoolwork."

She must have seen my eyes widen.

"No, Johnny," she said reassuringly, "this is a confidential matter that I would not disclose until I was sure it was necessary. I just told them that you had a stomachache the other day and I wanted to be sure you weren't under any unusual stress from your classes. I expected that there would be some negative effect of your confusion about your gender, but to my surprise it was just the opposite. Every one of your teachers had nothing but good things to say about you. You were more attentive, better behaved, doing your homework and getting good grades. In fact, a couple of your teachers said that they wished that whatever happened to you happened to the rest of the boys in their class."

For the first time in our conversation, I saw the beginning of a smile. Then she got serious again.

"I am not sure I am doing the right thing, but I respect your mother. If she feels that this is best for you, I will not interfere. However, you need to understand that if there is even the slightest indication that this is causing a problem for you or for any other student, it will have to be reported to the juvenile authorities. Are you perfectly clear about what I said, Johnny?"

I looked straight at her. "Yes, Mrs. McGowan. Perfectly clear. I honestly wish things weren't they way they are. I wish that I had been born a girl instead of a boy. I was never happy as a boy. I am very happy as Jenny. That's my girl's name. I was a bratty boy and caused trouble for me and for my family. Now things are great. I love my sisters and they love Jenny."

For the first time, I saw a look of sympathy on Mrs. McGowan's face.

"Johnny," she emphasized that she was talking to me as a boy, "I have known your mother since nursing school and over the years she has confided in me how hard it was raising the three of you after your father left. That is another reason why I don't want to create any more problems for her than she already has, if I can help it. I would expect that your sisters like you better as a girl and that playing dress up with you is fun; but there's more to being a girl than makeup and pretty clothes. The longer you pretend to be something you're not and can never be, the harder it will be for you and your family when you reach puberty. You know what puberty is?"

"Yes, Mrs. McGowan. I know. You mean when I'm old enough to be interested in boys. Or at least when girls start dating."

By her surprised look, I guessed that she did not believe I would have thought about this.

I told her honestly, "I'm not interested in boys right now. I don't know if I ever will be. I do know that I am not pretending to be a girl. I am a girl. I just have the wrong body."

Mrs. McGowan looked me in the eye. "You are an exceptional young…," she paused, choosing her word carefully, "person." I honestly hope that for your sake and your family's sake, this works out. My heart wants to believe it will, but my head tells me it won't. Either way, Johnny, be very, very careful. My professional responsibilities outweigh my feelings or my friendship."

"I understand and I will Mrs. McGowan. I will. And thank you," I said as I turned and went out.

The rest of the school day was uneventful. I went to class and spent my lunch period as usual, secretly watching the girls, imagining what it would be like to come to school as Jenny. When school got out I rushed home to change. I dropped my backpack in the kitchen and went upstairs to Beth and Susie's room. I opened the closet and looked through Beth's wardrobe. She had lots of pants and jeans that were definitely made for girls, but I still liked to look and feel feminine in skirts and dresses. I chose the black denim jumper that Beth put on me the first time she got me dressed to go out, a red cotton short-sleeved pullover with a crew neck, red nylon tights and black penny loafers with chunky two-inch heels. I put my outfit on Beth's bed and went into my room to get my undies. I couldn't wait to get out of my plain boy's clothes and into my lace trimmed pink panties and a matching cammie. I paraded back into Beth's room and posed in front of the mirror.

"Hi, Jenny," I greeted my image. She smiled back at me.

After I got dressed, I went over to Beth's makeup table and started to do my face. By now I was good at putting on my lipstick and eyeliner. I really didn't need it, since I wasn't going anywhere, but I wanted to practice. Once I was satisfied with my look, I picked out a thin silver chain with a silver cheerleader megaphone charm. It was Beth's favorite, but I knew she wouldn't mind me wearing it at home. Nobody would mistake me for a cheerleader around here. Finally, I blew out my hair to make it full and pulled it forward to frame my face. A red headband made the unisex cut look more girlish. I checked myself out in the mirror, did a final primp and was ready. Ready to start my homework. I let out a sigh. Someday, I thought, cheering myself up, someday, Jenny will do all the things that real girls do.

I went downstairs and started doing my homework. I was concentrating on a math problem when I heard the door open and looked up.

"Hi, Jenny," Mom said. She looked approvingly at me. "Pretty as always."

"Hi, Mom," I replied with a smile. "Thank you." Then I noticed that she was alone. "Where's Susie?" I asked her.

"Oh, Mrs. Johnson invited her to go with Kelly to a movie and then out for a burger. And Beth is cheering at a game and then she's going out with some of the girls, so she wont' be home until late either." She gave me a loving look. "It's just you and me Jenny. Actually, I'm very happy to be able to have time alone with you. So much has happened and we really haven't had a chance to talk."

"That sound's great, Mom," I agreed.

"If you don't mind, sweetie, it's been a really long day. Fridays are always crazy at the hospital. I am dying to get in a hot tub and soak. Then we can have dinner and spend the rest of the evening together."

"No problem, Mom. Go ahead and relax." I went over and gave her a hug and she hugged me back.

"I love, you Jenny," she said affectionately.

"I love you, too, Mom," I replied with equal emotion. That was the best part about being a girl. You didn't have to hide your feelings.

Mom went upstairs and I could hear the bath water running. I finished up the math problem I was working on and decided to surprise Mom by making dinner. I wasn't exactly a wiz in the kitchen, but I had been watching Beth and had a basic idea of how to cook without setting me or the house on fire. I decided to make macaroni and cheese. It came in a package with all the ingredients and it didn't seem too difficult. I found the box and read the directions. Boil water in a saucepan. I could do that. Put in the macaroni. I could do that. Stir for six minutes, drain, but it back, add the packet of cheese and stir. Easy. While the water was boiling, I set the table. Mom liked a glass of wine with dinner, so I found a wine glass. I poured a glass of milk for myself. Then I decided that we couldn't have just the mac and cheese. We needed a salad. I had watched Beth chop up lettuce and some other vegetables. I got everything I needed out of the fridge and carefully prepared two bowls. I took out a bottle of salad dressing and but it on the table.

"Jenny," Mom called, "I'm almost ready. Finish up what you're doing and I'll be down to start supper in a few minutes."

"Okay, Mom, don't rush."

I went back to the stove and checked the macaroni. It was coated with the melted cheese. I stirred it a few times and spooned it onto the plates as I heard Mom coming downstairs.

She had on her big white terry robe and white terry scuffs. A towel was wrapped around her head. She had a powdery flower smell from the bath beads she used. When she saw the table she stopped short.

"Jenny," she said with astonishment. "This is so sweet. How did you ever learn to be so domestic?"

"I don't know, Mom," I answered. "From watching Beth, I guess. I mean, I really didn't do anything special. Just set the table and made something from a mix."

"Well, someday you will make some lucky man a great wife." Then she turned red and put her hand up to her mouth. "Oh, Jenny, I'm so sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to, I, I, I'm so sorry, I," she stammered.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Really, Mom, its okay. Don't worry about it. I've heard you say that to Beth a hundred times. I like it when you talk to me the way you do to her. It makes me feel like a real girl."

Mom calmed down. "Come here, honey." She held out her arms. I went up to her and we snuggled. "Jenny, as far as I'm concerned," she said caringly, "you are a real girl and anyone who says you're not is going to have to deal with me!"

"Wow, Mom, that's really cool," I kidded her. "So on Monday I can go to school as Jenny and you'll tell them they're wrong about my being a boy?"

Mom got her sense of humor back. "You bet. Its girl's gym and Home Ec for you young lady.

"We don't have Home Ec in middle school, Mom," I reminded her, "but gym sounds like fun, although the shower situation might make it a little difficult to convince people I'm a girl."

We both laughed as we released each other.

After dinner we did the dishes. Then Mom asked me if I'd like to take a nice bubble bath. Susie liked to play in the tub, but Beth always took showers, because it was easier for her to wash her hair, and I always did what she did.

"Sure, Mom," a bubble bath sounds like fun.

"Okay, Sweetie. I'll run the water and get it ready. You go get undressed. Beth has a bathrobe hanging on the back of her closet door. Put it on and come into my bathroom.

I followed Mom upstairs and went into Beth's room. I stripped down to my panties and bra and stopped. I wasn't sure whether I should get completely undressed and decided to put the robe on over them. Beth had a pair of silly bunny slippers that someone gave her as a birthday present and I put them on just for fun. Then I headed down the hall to Mom's room. When I went in, I could hear the water running and could see her in the bathroom, bending over the tub. As I got closer, I could see a mound of frothy bubbles and there was that wonderful powdery flower smell. She must have heard me scuffle in and turned around.

"It's all ready for you, Honey." She looked down at my bunny feet. "Hop in," she laughed.

I untied the bathrobe and slipped it off. I stopped, not sure whether to take off my underwear or not. Mom must have realized why I was hesitating and smiled at me.

"It's up to you, Jenny," she said. "I'm a nurse and I'm you're mother. You won't embarrass me."

I took my bra and panties off and climbed into the tub. The water was hot and the fragrance surrounded me as I slipped under the bubbles. Mom brought over a huge sponge.

"This is a loofah. It is really good for you skin. Makes it nice a pink. Do you want me to do your back?

"Yes, please. I would like that, Mom."

I sat up and Mom dipped the loofah into the water and then began to rub it over my back. It was delicious.

"Lift up your arm," she directed.

I picked up one arm and she ran the loofah over it, down one side and up the other. Then she did my other arm. She stopped.

"Here," she said, handing me the loofah. "I think it would be best if you did the rest of you."

She gave me a smile and walked out, closing the door behind her. I continued scrubbing myself, until my skin was really soft and smooth. Then I just lay back and enjoyed the hot, steamy bath. I felt so pretty and feminine. I imagined getting ready for a big party, putting on a gorgeous lacey pink dress with a full skirt and swishing petticoats, like Cinderella going to the ball. The dress would show off my beautiful bare shoulders, arms and back. My hair would be long and done up. Everyone would stare at the beautiful girl as I gracefully walked down the stairs in my high heels. My daydream was interrupted by Mom's voice.

"Jenny, it's been almost a half hour. You should get out before you wrinkle up like a prune."

I looked down at my fingers and she was right. Too much of a good thing, I guess. I stood up and stepped out onto the bath mat. I took a big fluffy towel and began to blot myself dry.

"Honey, can I come in?" Mom called from the bedroom.

"Sure, Mom."

I wrapped the towel around me as the door opened.

"Now," she said, "before you dry off you should put on baby oil. It seals the moisture into your skin."

She went to the shelf and took down a bottle of baby oil. The towel was around my waist and I was holding it.

"Here, Sweetie. Let me show you how girls wrap towels around them so they stay on."

She twisted the ends around and then rolled the waist over. The towel stayed on like a skirt. Then she picked up the baby oil again and began to rub it on. She finished my upper body and handed the bottle to me.

"Here, you do you legs."

It was such a wonderful experience. Feeling soft and smelling pretty. Sharing beauty secrets with my mom. I couldn't imagine it being any other way. I finished and then went back to my room to put on my panties and a nightgown.

"Would you like some hot cocoa to finish off the evening," Mom asked.

"Mmmmm, sure," I said dreamily.

"Your sisters should be home soon. How about if I get everything started and we wait for them?
"Good idea, Mom. We can have a little party and plan our day at the salon with Mr. Kenneth."

"Oh, my, Jenny. I completely forgot about tomorrow. You're right."

"Do you want me to do your nails while we're waiting?" Mom asked. "After all the birthday girl has to look good for her big day."

"Yes, please, Mom," I replied.

"Give me a minute to get the cocoa started, then I'll be up. Why don't you see if Beth has a color you like and bring it into my room."

After my near disaster going to school with nail polish, I had been very careful about not using it during the week. I looked longingly at Beth's collection of colors each afternoon when I turned into Jenny, but I learned my lesson. Someday, I thought. Someday, I will be the one who sits on her bed with cotton between her toes polishing her toenails. I knew exactly which color I wanted. It was a dark pink and she had matching lipstick. I took the bottle and shook it as I walked to Mom's room. I sat down on her bed and waited for her to come up.

"Okay, lets get started," Mom said as she sat on the bed next to me. "Give me your hand."

I held my hand out and she took it in her left hand, holding it gently while she smoothed and shaped the nails with an emery board. Then she took a bottle and started to paint my thumbnail.

"Mom? What are you doing? I thought I was going to wear Beth's polish. Why are you putting on clear?"

"Be patient, daughter!" Mom pretended to scold me. "If you put a coat of clear on first, it makes it easier to get the color off later."

Mom finished one hand and stared on the other while I wiggled my fingers in the air. Sometimes Beth had me hold the hair dryer on her nails to make them dry faster, but we weren't in a hurry. I was surprised how good a manicure Mom gave me, considering that being a nurse and not going out much, she rarely wore nail polish herself. Mom had just finished and was about to start on my toes when I heard the kitchen door open. I guessed it was Beth, because Mrs. Johnson would have come to the front door to drop of Susie. A short time later, I heard Beth calling.

"Mom, Jenny, Susie. Where is everybody?"

"Up here, Beth dear," Mom responded. "Susie's still at Mrs. Johnson's. She took her and Kelly to a movie and out for dinner. It's just Jenny and me. I'm doing her nails. We're in my room, she added. C'mon up."

I heard Beth on the stairs and then walking down the hallway.

"Well, now!" she exclaimed, standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips, pretending to be miffed. "I don't recall anyone inviting Beth to the family beauty parlor." Then she came over and sat next to me.

"Watch it," I warned her playfully, "You'll smudge my polish." I held my hands out to show her my nails.

"You better watch it, Sis, or you'll give yourself away," she replied.

"Beth, whatever are you talking about? How would showing you my nail polish give me away?"

"Jenny, my dear sister, girls show their nails by holding their hands out, palms down with their fingers spread. Like this," she demonstrated, putting her hands out with a limp wrist and wiggling her fingers. "Boys do this." She curled her fingers into a loose fist.

"Wow, Beth," thanks. "I never knew that. I'll try to be more careful."

"I don't know why that is," she added with a puzzled expression, looking over at Mom. Girl's just don't make fists for some reason. If you ever see a cat fight, we pull each other's hair, slap and scratch, but never punch."

Just then the doorbell rang.

"It must be Mrs. Johnson bringing Susie home. Will you go down, since your dressed Beth?"

"Of course, Mom."

She went downstairs and I heard the door open.

"Hi, Mrs. Johnson. Thanks for taking Susie."

"Oh, it was no prob…. ," Mrs. Johnson started to say, before Susie interrupted her.

"Is Jenny here, Beth? Susie asked excitedly. Is she upstairs? Bye Mrs. Johnson, thanks," she called out as I heard her running up the stairs.

"My goodness, Beth. Susie certainly is taken with Jenny. How is he," she paused, "she," she corrected herself, "doing?"

"She," Beth emphasized, is doing great, Mrs. Johnson. Thank you for asking. Goodnight Mrs. Johnson. And thanks again." The door closed.

"Jenny, where are you?" Susie called, as she reached the top of the stairs.

"In Mom's room, Susie," I replied.

She burst through the door and jumped into my lap. Beth came in a minute later.

"Well, girls. Are you ready for your big day tomorrow?" Mom asked.

"Definitely, Mom," Beth said confidently. "I bought a bunch of hair styling magazines and we will go through them and find some styles we like. Let's go ladies," she said as she herded us out the door. We were all giggles as we headed off to fantasize about glamorous hairdos.

  

  

  

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