Susan's Little Sister

by Jennifer

 

Chapter 1

 

I always envied my big sister Susan. She was seventeen years old, and I was ten, but ever since I was little I'd wanted to be like her, pretty and petite, with long blonde hair falling down over her shoulders, and always the centre of attention. She was very sweet natured and I absolutely adored her. And my affection was reciprocated. Always protective and full of affection, she would do anything for me. When she was my age she had a gorgeous wardrobe of the most delightful dresses, and unlike some of her friends, revelled in fulfilling the role of a sweet little girl. Even at seventeen, she still had that wide-eyed happy adventurous spirit that made her so popular.

Yes, I wanted to be like her, but there was one small problem. I was a boy. And I hated it. I was soft and gentle like her, and was always being bullied at school and called a sissy by the other boys. I felt more comfortable and safe in the company of girls both in and out of school, and longed to be one of them. Whenever Susan's friends came round I readily joined in with their activities, and felt safe in their company. The girls were really nice to me in return, and Susan good-naturedly let me sometimes wear one of her dresses that she'd outgrown so that I could be 'one of the girls'. Her friends didn't mind, in fact they clearly appreciated finding at least one boy who didn't have the usual contempt for girls that most of my peers displayed.

And there was one definite plus. Susan had always been big for her age, whereas I was quite the opposite. I was diminutive. Consequently, at the age of ten, the cute little dresses she'd worn at the age of eight fitted me perfectly. Since I wanted to look as cute as possible, the situation couldn't have been better. The only problem was that when dressed as a girl I had to keep out of Mum's sight and stay in Susan's room, because Mum would have certainly disapproved. Like most parents, that's the way she was.

But Susan had always wanted a little sister, and when I was a toddler she used to dress me up in one of her old baby dresses with a bonnet on my head and pretend that I was her little sister. I still wasn't too big to fit in our old pram, and she and her friends even took me out in it occasionally. By the time I was four, although small of stature, I'd grown too big to fit in the pram, so they used to take me for walks strapped into my baby reins that still fitted me if they let the straps out. Dressed as a little girl of course. But eventually Mum told them to stop doing it, so that was the end of that. Or so she thought.

Growing up in an all female household in Horsham with my sister and her friends for company, and with my ever increasing wish to be a girl, it's hardly surprising that I readily identified with them, and as time passed I more and more wanted to be one of them. I used to go to sleep at night, praying that in the morning I'd wake up as a girl and could wear dresses like my sister. It didn't happen of course, but one day, fate took a hand and looked kindly on me. If I couldn't be a girl, at least I could pretend that I was, which was the next best thing.

Susan was well aware of my wish because I always shared my secrets with her, and she sympathised with me. And then came the day she had her idea. She'd received an invitation to spend the weekend with her friends Carol and Fiona Taylor down on the coast at Brighton, where they lived with their mother and younger sister Michaela. As usual, I whined with envy as I told her how much I wished I could come.

'Why can't I come?' I said piteously, 'I wouldn't be a nuisance, honest.'

'I know you wouldn't Peter' she said gently, 'But it's a girls only affair. And anyway, you're a bit too young. That's why you weren't invited. If you'd been a girl.....' Suddenly she stopped, looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, and then grinned. 'I wonder?' she said with a chuckle, 'I wonder if it just might be possible?'

'What might be possible?'

'For Cinderella to go to the ball.' Now I was really confused.

'What are you talking about? Cinderella? What's she got to do with it?'

'Never mind that. Would you really like to come down to Brighton with me?'

'Of course I would. But I can't can I? Just because I'm not a girl. It's not fair!'

'Well you might not be able to go as David, but what if you came as say, Lucy, my little cousin. You couldn't come as my sister of course, because they know I don't have one, but a cousin? Well, that's different.'

'You mean we could pretend I'm a girl?'

'Why not? You're forever trying on the dresses I wore when I was your age, and you've always said you've wanted to be a girl. If you're all dressed up and I give you some coaching, I reckon we could pass you off as a girl. You do have a very soft face, quite pretty actually, and by the time I put you into a sweet little dress no one will think you're a boy.'

'What about my hair?'

'No problem. My friend Trudy's got a perfect wig for you. It's made of real hair in a pageboy style and the colour matches yours perfectly.' Suddenly her face broadened into the sort of smile that people adopt when they've just hit on an idea that they just cannot resist. 'Oh yes' she grinned, 'The more I think about it the more I like the idea.'

'But what about Mum?'

'She won't be around. She's going to be away on that cruise with Dorothy Aitken remember? I'll just tell her that you've been invited as well and she'll be none the wiser.'

Her enthusiasm was infectious, and suddenly the prospect of at least pretending to be a girl for a few days was to be a reality. I began to smile with happiness, flung my arms around my sister, and hugged her. 'Oh thank you Sis' I said, 'You really are the best sister in the world!'

'Well we'll see' she replied, disentangling herself and stepping back, 'There's one condition though.'

'What's that?' I said breathlessly.

'That you really can pass yourself off as my little cousin Lucy. You could probably fool the adults, but Carol and Fiona are a different matter, as well as Michaela. She's the same age as you, and pretty bright. Mind you, we've got a whole month to get you ready, so I'm pretty sure that will be enough, but if I decide that you won't get away with it, it's off. No arguments. Understood?'

'Fair enough. But I know I can do it!'

'So do I' she laughed, 'So don't worry too much about it. By the time I've finished with you you'll be skipping along the pavement like any other little girl. But in the meantime, we're going to need a few dress rehearsals. When we get nearer the time I'll take you into town. If anybody realises that you're a boy we'll soon know because they'll start laughing at you, so that will be your test. No laughs, and we'll know you're ready.' She looked at me, chuckled, and said 'You know what? The more I think about it, the more I like the challenge. I think this is going to be fun!'

'It sure is! I can't wait!'

And so the scene was set for our little adventure.

 

 

Chapter 2

 

The easiest part was assembling what I was going to wear. Susan had plenty of clothes she'd outgrown that fitted me perfectly. She borrowed the wig from Trudy, and when she first put it on my head and carefully brushed it neatly, the transformation was amazing. At the time I was wearing a shirt and a pair of shorts, and even dressed like that, I could easily have passed for a tomboy. I could hardly wait to see how I'd look once I was wearing a dress with it.

And then my training began. Fortunately, we were on our long summer holiday and Mum was at work all day, so we had plenty of time alone together for me to practice my role as Lucy, Susan's little cousin. Naturally I always wore one of her dresses and my wig so that I could get the feel of it, and it certainly helped.

Susan was a perfectionist. For hour after hour while Mum was out at work she drilled me. She made me stand, sit, walk and run around the garden, and I learnt how to eat daintily and demurely as sweet little girls are expected to do. She taught me to acquire a girlish demeanour that would be natural and convincing. She taught me how to speak like a girl, and virtually to think like a girl, which she said was the secret. If I could convince myself that I was a girl, then I would convince others. And I loved every minute of it. I was in seventh heaven as for the first time my feminine side was allowed to blossom. I'd never been so happy, and Susan smiled as she saw how naturally I took to my new role as Lucy. She had a month to train me, but after two weeks she said I was ready for my first excursion out into the big wide world.

My main worry was that I might be seen by someone I knew, such as one of my schoolfriends. I gulped nervously at the thought. If any of them saw me dressed as Lucy, I would be the laughing stock of the school next term. But Susan reassured me. She said that unless they saw me up close, all they would see was a little girl in a dress with a mid brown pageboy hairstyle like thousands of other little girls. As she said, people only see what they think they see, and I certainly looked convincing. Nevertheless, she said she had an idea to make my first venture out of the house a little easier, but wouldn't let on yet. All she said was that we'd go out on the next wet day. Why it had to be a wet day in particular escaped me, but as far as I was concerned she was in charge, so I didn't question it.

The following evening the TV weather forecast was for frequent periods of heavy rain, so Susan decided that tomorrow was to be the day. She suggested an early night, and as I lay in bed I could barely contain my excitement. Tomorrow I was going to go out as a girl. At last.

 

Chapter 3

The weather forecast was right. When I awoke the sky was dark grey and the rain was running down the window in rivulets. I was barely awake when my bedroom door opened and a cheerful face popped round the door. 'Up you get sleepyhead' smiled Susan, 'Mum's already left for work, so go to the bathroom, take a shower, and then come into my room and I'll transform you into my little cousin Lucy for the day.' I eagerly jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom. As I stood under the shower I tingled with excitement, and as soon as I was clean I quickly dried myself and padded down to Susan's bedroom with the bath towel round me.

I went into her room, and she sat me down while she dried my hair with her hairdryer. Then she said 'All right then, let's turn you into Lucy shall we? I've got everything ready.' She certainly did have. My underclothes and socks were laid out on the bed, together with a pair of shoes. Hanging on the wardrobe door was my dress, and the wig was ready for me on its stand on the dressing table.

'Right' she said, pulling away my towel, 'Knickers first,' She picked up a pair of pink silk knickers with small bows on and held them out in front of me a foot off the ground. 'In you get' she smiled, and with a beating heart I stepped into them. She pulled them up my legs and arranged them comfortably around my waist. Next she took the type of white cotton vest that little girls wear, and pulling it on over my head, she put my arms through the holes before pulling it down around me and tucking it into the waist of my knickers.

Then came the moment I'd been waiting for. She took the dress down off its hanger, and holding it up in front of her she put her head on one side, grinned, and said 'Is this little girlish enough for you?'

It couldn't have been better. I recognised it as a summer dress she'd stopped wearing when she was about eight, and hardly surprising, It was almost babyish, and very sweet. And because I was small for my age, she knew that it would fit me. It was certainly a style for a little girl, made of white satin with a peter pan collar and short puffed sleeves. It had a long row of pearl buttons that fastened up the back, and a sash belt that tied in a bow behind the waist. To complete the babyish look, it had a pattern of pink smocking across the front. It was exactly what I wanted.

'Come along then Lucy' said Susan, 'Let's see how your dress fits you shall we?' I obediently held up my arms, and she pulled the dress down over me. She fastened the buttons behind me, and as she tied the belt in a neat bow behind me I sighed with pleasure as I felt it clinging close to me. Sitting me down on the bed, she pulled a pair of white cotton ankle socks onto my feet, and turned them down neatly. Then she picked up one of the shoes to show me. They were red leather T bar sandals with buckles at the sides, and couldn't have been more juvenile. She grinned as she pulled them onto my feet and fastened the buckles securely.

'Right then' she said, 'Now come and sit in front of the dressing table and I'll see about your hair.' I went across and sat down, and she began by combing my hair down flat. Then she put a sort of stocking material cap over my hair. 'This is the proper way to put wigs on' Susan explained, 'Trudy showed me. This is how they do it on the stage.' She took the wig off its stand, and very carefully brought it down onto my head. Then she started using hair pins to pin it in place. She gently brushed it down around my face, and when she'd finished she said 'That looks pretty good. Come and look at yourself over here.' She took me across to the full-length wardrobe mirror stood me in front of it and said 'There. What do you think?'

I looked in the mirror and gasped. There in front of me was the sweetest looking little girl you could imagine. For a moment I could hardly believe it was me. It was perfect, and I smiled with delight. 'Oh Susan' I cried, 'That's brilliant! I'm Lucy!'

'You certainly are' she chuckled, 'You look even better than I'd hoped. Oh yes, I think we'll fool them all right. But I was just thinking' she added, 'If we're going to pass you off as Lucy, you've got to start thinking and feeling like Lucy. You've got to really get into the part. Once Mum's gone on holiday and you're wearing dresses all the time, I'll treat you as much as I can as if you really are a little girl. That way it will become second nature. Do you understand?'

I couldn't think of anything I wanted more. 'Sure!' I said, my eyes sparkling, 'Gee I'm so looking forward to this.'

'So am I' smiled Susan, 'Now let's go down to breakfast and then we'll get ready to go out.' Taking a last lingering look at myself, I gave a sigh of contentment and followed Susan downstairs to the kitchen.

Impatient to be off, I started wolfing down my breakfast, and Susan brought me up sharply by saying 'Lucy! That isn't how nice little girls eat. Now eat slowly and sit up properly as I've shown you. Don't forget, from now on you're a sweet dainty little girl. Right?'

'Yes Susan' I said with a demure little grin, and began to take small ladylike bites of food.

'That's better' she smiled approvingly.

Breakfast over, we soon washed up, and we were ready for the day's adventure. We went out into the hall, and Susan said 'Now you'll find out why I chose a rainy day for your first little excursion.'

She went to the cupboard under the stairs, and took out something she hadn't worn since she was ten. It was a red rubberised cotton mackintosh with a satinette finish, double breasted with a belt, and had an attached hood with tie tapes and a button fastening under the chin. Holding it up for me to see, Susan grinned and said 'D'you remember this? Mum made me wear it when I was little, and I hated it because I thought it was so babyish. So let's see how you like wearing it shall we? In you get.' She held the mac up for me to put my arms into the sleeves, and pulled it on over my shoulders and buttoned it up to my neck. Then she threaded the belt through the buckle and tightened it round my waist before standing back to inspect me.

She'd certainly been bigger than me when she was ten. The sleeves came down as far as my fingers, and the hem hung down several inches below my knees. Suddenly I felt small and vulnerable, ideal for my role as little Lucy.

'Oh yes, that's perfect' smiled Susan approvingly, 'You look just like a typical little girl wearing that mac.' She took down her royal blue gaberdine school raincoat from the coat stand, put it on, buttoned it up and fastened the belt. 'All right' she said, 'Let's go. Ready?'

'Ready' I said, trembling with excitement.

She opened the door and we could see the rain coming down in buckets. 'Perfect' she said, 'Just what we needed. Now you'll see why I chose a rainy day. Let's put up your hood shall we? Not only will it keep your hair dry, but you might feel more comfortable at first if you can hide your face under it.' She pulled my mackintosh hood carefully up over my head so as not to disturb my wig. Then she pulled the tie tapes together under my chin, tied them in a bow, and fastened the additional button flap under my chin before pulling the hood well forward. It was of a style that used to be popular with little girl's mackintosh hoods, with a square cut about 4 inches long running across the top at the back of the head. She arranged the fringe and sides of my wig so that it framed my face neatly, and stepped back to look at me. She gave a slight grin and said 'Lucy, I must admit you really do look like a little girl like that. No one's ever going to guess you're a boy.'

I looked at myself in the hall mirror, and had to agree. With my face peeping out from under my mackintosh hood, it was hard to doubt that it was being worn by a little girl of about eight. Susan looked at me, giggled for a moment, and said 'There you are. That will keep you nice and dry won't it?' She grinned, put up her own raincoat hood, and taking a final look at me she smiled and said 'Off we go then Lucy. After you, and for goodness' sake don't forget everything I've told you about walking like a girl. Nice short dainty steps remember.'

My heart beating wildly, I stepped over the threshold of the front door out into the pouring rain. Susan followed me, shut the door behind us, and I almost panicked as I realised I was now fully visible to the world dressed as a little girl. But Susan reassuringly took my hand and said 'Come along Lucy, let's go shopping. Don't worry, you look fine.' We walked down the front path and out onto the pavement and I realised that this was it. What I'd dreamed of was coming to pass at last.

At first I kept looking at the ground, glad to have my face partly hidden under my mackintosh hood, but Susan looked at me and said 'For goodness' sake Lucy, chin up. Stop trying to hide your face like that. Remember, you're a girl now, so act more naturally, just as I've taught you. Watch how other girls walk and try and imitate them, and if someone looks at you look back at them and smile like the demure little girl you're supposed to be. All right?'

'I'll try' I said nervously, 'But it isn't easy. What if one of the kids from school does see me?'

'Oh for goodness' sake stop worrying. If anyone looks as if they recognise you, just ignore them, and I'll say come along Lucy or something. Then we'll just walk on. Don't worry, you'll be fine.' I still wasn't convinced, but it was too late by now.

The rain beat down on my mackintosh hood and ran down over my shoulders in rivulets. But the rubberised cotton was completely waterproof, and I was kept warm and dry. The only uncomfortable feeling was the hem of my wet mac slapping against my legs as the rain soaked my lower legs and feet.

Suddenly I saw two women walking towards us, sheltering under their umbrellas. As they came closer my footsteps faltered as I looked at them nervously. But they walked past us without even a glance, and with a sigh of relief I walked on. They obviously didn't have a second thought about me being a girl, so the first hurdle had been overcome.

As we approached the Horsham town centre shopping precinct, more and more people appeared, and I began to realise that no one was taking any notice of me. My sister's confidence in my appearance was justified, and it slowly dawned on me that I really was being taken for just another little girl among many, and not worthy of a second glance. Gradually my nervousness began to dwindle, and I started to concentrate on watching the way that the young girls I saw walked. Trying to be graceful, but still with a little touch of clumsiness.

I suddenly realised that everyone was huddled up against the rain, and the last thing they were doing was looking at me. My confidence grew rapidly as no one noticed me, but just as I was beginning to relax, Susan took my arm and guided me into a large department store. As soon as we were inside she unfastened her raincoat hood and threw it back so that it hung down over her shoulders. Looking at me she smiled and said 'Well go on Lucy, take off your hood. It's not raining in here is it? If you walk around in here with your hood up, people are more likely to look at you.' I froze, terrified of uncovering my face, but she just grinned, and unfastening my hood, pulled it down and gently smoothed my hair into place with her hands. 'There' she said, 'You look fine. Just remember that you're Lucy, and for goodness sake enjoy it! It's what you always wanted, wasn't it? Now come along, we'll browse around for a while.'

She led the way through the various departments, and concentrating on everything she'd taught me about deportment, I stayed close to her. Susan was marvellous. She kept looking at various items and talking to me just as if I really were her little cousin Lucy, and I began to warm to the part. By the time we'd been in there for an hour I was becoming much more relaxed, and this was confirmed when a lady looked at me and smiled. I smiled back, and felt wonderful. She obviously hadn't noticed a thing. So far so good.

Eventually, Susan said 'How about a cup of coffee? We can go round to Mario's Coffee Shop. My friend Kate Munro works there and I want to try you out on her.'

Suddenly I was nervous again. 'Try me out? Do we have to?' I whimpered, 'I'm scared.'

'Oh don't be so silly. Just remember that you're Lucy now, so there's nothing to worry about. Now come along.' She took my hand firmly, and led the way to the entrance to the store. It was still raining, and she put up her hood. She looked at me, smiled, and said 'Well go on, put your hood up. I'm not going to go on doing it for you.'

I reached back over my shoulders, pulled my hood up over my head, and tied the tie tapes under my chin before fastening the button flap as well. Susan put up her hands, pulled my hood forward slightly, and said 'That's better. Now let's go and have a cup of coffee. You can have a milk shake if you like.' We stepped out into the rain, and made our way along the wet shopping precinct to the coffee shop.

Mario's was busy, and as we went in, Susan unfastened her hood, threw it back over her shoulders and unfastened her raincoat. She led the way to the far end of the shop where two waitresses were chatting, and said 'Hi Kate, how's things?'

'Oh hi Susan' said one, 'How are you enjoying the school holidays?'

'As I always do. A lot.'

'Lucky you. Eight weeks off. Wait till you start work.'

'Well I hope to go to Uni first. They have even longer holidays.'

'All right for some. Whose this under the raincoat?' The girl had suddenly noticed the small hooded me standing next to Susan.

'Oh this? This is my cousin Lucy. Let's get that mac off.' Turning to me she put down my hood, and unfastening my mackintosh, removed it completely. I felt naked as I stood there awkwardly in my dress with my hands by my sides and my feet together just as Susan had taught me to stand.

'Oh isn't she sweet' said Kate, smiling at me. 'Hello Lucy. My goodness that's a lovely dress your wearing. Very pretty.' I was quick to respond as Lucy, smiled, and said in my best little girl voice 'Thank you. It's one of Susan's old ones, but I like it so much she said I can have it.'

'And why not?' smiled Susan, 'It's nice to see some of my dresses from when I was a little girl get a new lease of life.'

'Yes it's handy having younger sisters (or cousins) isn't it? I've only got a younger brother, but somehow I don't think he'd be too keen on wearing mine!' I couldn't help grinning as they laughed at the idea. If she'd only known.

'Well grab a table Sue' Kate continued, 'And I'll be with you in a minute.'

Susan led me over to a nearby table, took off her raincoat, and laid it over the back of a chair with mine. Then we sat down sitting opposite each other. She looked at me, gave a cheerful wink, and I smiled back. I was feeling better by the minute, and I glanced around me. Not one person was looking at me and it felt wonderful.

Kate came over and took our order for a coffee and a strawberry milkshake, and while we waited for them to arrive I leaned across to Susan and whispered 'You don't think she suspects do you?'

'Of course not' she smiled, 'I told you before, people only see what they think they see. All anybody can see at this moment is a sweet little girl in a pretty dress. And you're doing fine with the voice and deportment. The last thing Kate or anybody else would suspect at the moment is that you're my little brother, so keep it up, this is going really well, take my word for it.' Her confidence was a real boost, and I put on my most innocent and demure little girl expression.

We stayed there for about half an hour before Susan said it was time for us to be on our way, and as she paid the bill at the cash desk, Kate said to her 'Why don't you bring Lucy round for tea next week? She's such a lovely well-behaved little girl. I'd love Mum to meet her.'

Susan looked at me, smiled, and said 'She is, isn't she? OK then, which day?'

'How about Wednesday afternoon? It's my half day.'

'Fine, what time?'

'Oh, just come over after lunch.'

'Right. See you then.'

We said our goodbyes, and as we went outside we saw that it had stopped raining and the sun was shining. Susan said it was too warm to wear our raincoats, so she told me to carry my mackintosh neatly over my arm. I still felt quite nervous about being in everyone's clear view dressed in a pretty little frock, ankle socks and sandals, but Susan's confidence in me made things much easier.

Concentrating on my girlish walk I said 'Are you sure that was a good idea? I mean, being a cute little girl talking to Kate for a few minutes is one thing, but a whole afternoon with her and her mother? That's a bit different.'

'Oh stop worrying' laughed Susan, 'You can do it, and besides, I want you to get as much practice as possible before we go down to Brighton. Don't forget, as soon as Mum's gone on her cruise, I want you to be Lucy all the time. That means dresses only at least until we get back from Brighton. I want you to be absolutely perfect by the time we go.' I couldn't help smiling. Nothing could suit me better, and I smiled demurely as I walked along the precinct with my sister, revelling in my new role.

We strolled gently home, and as soon as we were indoors Susan said 'All right Lucy, Mum will be home soon, so we'd better get you changed back. Don't worry, another day or two and you can keep your dresses on all the time. Now come on upstairs and we'll get this lot off.'

I followed her obediently upstairs, and sighed as she removed my wig before undressing me. I went into my bedroom, and regretfully dressed as David once again. I certainly knew which outfit I preferred!

Mum was home on time, and after dinner that evening we discussed the arrangements for while she was away. Susan would be in charge of course, and Mum was pleased to hear that I'd been invited down to Brighton with her rather than being left on my own.

And so the scene was set for two lovely weeks living completely as a little girl. A dream come true, thanks to my sister.

 

 

Chapter 4

 

For the next few days I spent as much time as possible dressed as a girl, and much as we loved her, Susan and I were glad when Mum left to go on her holiday. Now I could really get into being Lucy all the time, and spend my entire day wearing the sweetest little dresses Susan could find. She put all my boy's clothes into the spare room and locked the door so that I wouldn't have access to them, and then she moved all my girl's clothing into my room. Now I had nothing but girl's clothes to wear, and my being dressed as Lucy became full time when she provided me with some ankle length wincyette nightdresses to sleep in. One was white with little rosebuds on it, and the other was a lovely pale pink. The only way in which you would have realised that I was actually a boy was when Susan removed my wig each night and left it on the wig stand.

For the next few days we continued with our walks into town together, and I soon became completely at ease wearing a dress in public. I received many smiles from a number of women who obviously took pleasure in seeing a pretty little girl dressed so sweetly. On a couple of occasions I received a slightly puzzled glance, but that was only when I forgot myself for a moment and slipped back into walking like a boy and they obviously wondered if I actually was a boy. But they always had second thoughts and walked on. After all, if you see a little girl wearing a dress you assume it must be a girl, don't you?

Wednesday finally arrived, and I felt a tinge of excitement as my first really big test arrived. Could I really pass myself of as a girl to the complete acceptance of Kate and her mother? Well this would be the acid test, and there was only one way to find out.

That morning, Susan selected what I was going to wear with extra care. She wanted to make my outfit as convincing as possible, and after my morning shower, I padded back to my room, eager to see what she had selected.

My knickers were pale yellow, worn with a white vest, typical attire for a little girl. She helped me into them, and then with a smile, she leaned into the wardrobe and took out a primrose yellow party dress. 'Here we are' she grinned, 'This was one of my favourite party dresses. Very sweet, and perfect for giving the impression of a little girl. In you get.' She held it up for me to put on, and I put my arms and head into it before she pulled it on and smoothed it down around me. She fastened the row of buttons up my back, and took extra care to tie the sash belt in a neat bow behind me.

Sitting me down at the dressing table, she pulled a pair of white cotton ankle socks with frills around the ankle onto my feet before turning them down neatly. Then she took a pair of white leather open toed sandals decorated with small pink flowers, and buckled each one securely onto my feet. I looked down at them and grinned. They were certainly suited to a little girl, and I realised that she was obviously pulling out all the stops to make me appear as young as possible. Fair enough.

My wig came next, and as soon as Susan installed it firmly on my head I recognised the by now familiar looking little girl in front of me. It was amazing how quickly and easily I'd adapted to my new role as Susan's little cousin Lucy.

But today, Susan had something extra to add to the illusion. 'Now then Lucy' she grinned, putting her hands on my shoulders and looking at me in the mirror, 'Today I think we'll add a little extra something to convince Kate and her mother. What we need is some hair ribbons. In other words a couple of pretty bows in your hair. That should be just what we need to convince them. Now sit up straight, and keep your head still while I do them.'

She opened a drawer and took out two lengths of pale yellow hair ribbon, two elastic bands, and two white plastic hair slides in the form of little bows. 'Here we are' she smiled, 'Now you'll find out what I went through nearly every day when I was a little girl. Just keep your head perfectly still.' Taking a hairbrush, she divided my wig into two bunches before securing them with the two elastic bands to hold them firmly in place. Then, taking a length of pale yellow satin hair ribbon, she tied it in a single knot around the base of one bunch of hair before she wound the two ends of the ribbon in opposite directions around the hair bunch before tying the ends in a bow.

The other bunch of hair received the same treatment, and soon my head was decorated with two neat bows of yellow hair ribbon. Looking at me approvingly for a moment, Susan finished off the effect by sliding the two white plastic hair slides into position next to my hair bows and clipping them firmly in place.

We both looked at my image in the mirror, and Susan smiled broadly as she admired the effect of her handiwork. 'Oh yes' she said, 'That's absolutely perfect. My goodness David, I can hardly recognise you. Visually you are a little girl, it's amazing. All you've got to do now is act the part and I think we have it. Quite amazing, even if I do say it myself.' Her satisfaction was infectious, and I had to admit that the little girl staring back at me from the mirror was real, and I grinned with delight. 'Sis' I said, 'You're a genius. I love you!'

'Of course you do' she grinned, kissing me on the cheek, 'And I love you too. Now let's go down and have some breakfast, and work out just how we're going to deal with Kate and her Mum this afternoon. Don't forget, you've got to be prepared for any question she might throw at you. For instance, if her Mum asks you where you live, what will you say?'

My heart jumped. I hadn't thought of that eventuality. 'I....I don't know' I said, suddenly lost for words, 'Where does Lucy come from?'

Susan looked at me for a moment, grinned, and then said 'I've decided that you live in Canterbury, since that's where I went to boarding school. I know it well, so I can give you all the answers. Don't worry, I've been thinking about this for the last couple of days. What we're going to do this morning is invent a complete new you as Lucy. Where you live, what school you go to, your friends and so on. Believe me, by the time we get to Kate's this afternoon, you'll really be Lucy. Now let's have some breakfast.'

It was a busy morning. As soon as we'd cleared away the breakfast things, my indoctrination to the part of little Lucy intensified. It seemed that my sister had thought of any contingency, and after a few hours I was well equipped and confident enough to deal with every conceivable question that might be asked of me. But the most important lesson that Susan taught me was to be Lucy. By assuming the role completely, I began to realise that I had only to think like her and I could answer any question. Even if Susan asked me a question about myself that we hadn't anticipated, I only had to assume that I really was her little cousin and an answer would spring into mind. By midday, we were both satisfied that I really had become Lucy in every respect. It was exhilarating, and Susan was well pleased.

'Well Lucy' she said with a smile as she decided that I was ready, 'Let's take a break before we go. I think you're going to breeze through this, I really do. I know you've always wanted to be a girl, but your progress these last couple of weeks has been really amazing. Honestly, I reckon you could convince anyone by now, and I really mean that. We'll fool Kate and her mother this afternoon, and go out every day for the next couple of weeks. And by the time we go down to Brighton I reckon I'll have just about forgotten that I'm with my brother David. No, I'll be with my cousin Lucy. I think you've done brilliantly.'

By now my feminine side couldn't hold back, and I took both her hands in mine, put my head on her chest and with eyes shut fast I sighed 'Oh thank you Susan. Thank you for letting me be me. I love you so much.' She put her arms tenderly around me, gave me a little hug and said 'Hush little one. Boy or girl, you'll always be the same to me. And I'll always be here for you. Now let's have a little snack and we'll be off.' Susan was a sister in a million.

Needless to say, lunch was a short-lived affair. I think we were both keen to get going, so it was barely an hour before we were in the hall getting ready to leave. Susan opened the door and inspected the sky. It was clear blue, and as a warm breeze blew in through the doorway, Susan looked at me, smiled, and said 'All right Lucy, I don't think we'll be needing our macs today.' She picked up her bag, and looking at me she said 'Well, go on, after you my little cousin. Let's go.' By now far more confident than I'd been a couple of weeks before, I stepped out through the front door and skipped down the path to the front gate and out onto the pavement.

It certainly was a beautiful day, and by now I was becoming so confident in my new role as Lucy that I revelled in the pure joy of being a little girl. I kept looking at my sister and smiling, and she would grin back at me, knowing how happy I was feeling.

We continued walking in the warm sunshine for another half an hour or so until we finally reached Kate Munro's house. Susan rang the bell, and Kate opened the door. 'Hi you two' she smiled, 'Do come in. Just one thing before we go through though. Mum's got a couple of elderly ladies visiting at the moment. They're a bit on the stern side, so please humour them will you?'

'Sure' smiled Susan, 'We've got this really dour old Scottish aunt who disapproves of everything, so don't worry, we're used to it.'

'Good' grinned Kate, and led the way down the hallway and into the living room.

It was a comfortably furnished room, tastefully decorated. Seated around the fireplace were three elderly ladies, together with Kate's mother, Mary Munro. She stood up and introduced us. 'Girls' she said, 'This is my aunt and two of her friends. This is Mrs. Grace Hall' the lady nodded, 'This is Miss Audrey Jenkins, and this is Miss Maude Hurley.' We politely acknowledged each introduction, and then it was our turn. 'Ladies' said Kate, 'This is my friend Susan Proctor and her cousin Lucy.' We received a very slight nod of acknowledgement from the three ladies, and I almost felt like curtseying, it was so formal. Mrs. Munro told us to sit down, so I sat on a large settee next to Susan, while Kate sat on an upright chair.

Kate's mother decided to start the ball rolling. She looked at me and smiled. 'Kate tells me you're staying with your cousin Susan. You're on your school holidays I suppose.'

'Yes that's right' said Susan, 'Lucy's staying with us so that her mother can have a short holiday.'

'How nice' said Miss Hurley, looking at me, 'And how do you like it here Lucy?' Right on cue I opened my eyes a little widely, and with my most innocent expression said 'Oh it's lovely here, the countryside is so beautiful, and such a change from Canterbury, where I live.' Miss Hurley gave a slightly disdainful smile and said 'Yes, well I can understand that. Canterbury used to be so refined, but nowadays, what with these tourists and burger bars, such a vulgar place.' I nearly burst out laughing at her pomposity, but no problem, I was feeling well under control of my role as a sweet and polite little girl by now. She turned to Mrs. Munro, smiled and said 'Well I must say Mary, it's such a pleasure to see a little girl so nicely dressed, isn't it? Most suitable. I do so detest girls wearing trousers these days, and as for those jean things that some of them wear, well, I ask you. Why, with their awful short hair, you can hardly tell whether they're boys or girls sometimes!' She put back her head and laughed, along with her friends. I just smiled politely, although Susan nearly had a fit of the giggles. If the old lady had only known. 'No, I must say' she continued, 'I do approve of girls looking like girls, as well as behaving like them. And I don't approve of treating the young ones as older girls before they're ready, either. They should be allowed to experience the joys and constraints of childhood. Take young Lucy here, she's the very picture of a little girl, a credit to her mother.'

I was certainly taking care to be on my best behaviour, and exhibited all the attributes expected from sweet, dainty little girls. Aided by my appearance I had no problem in convincing them that I was most definitely a girl, and I was thoroughly enjoying the deception.

Miss Hurley obviously had very strict ideas as to how she expected little girls to behave, and the conversation continued in the same vein. 'I just can't understand children these days' said Audrey. 'Most of them go off the rails by the time they reach their teens, and all the girls seem to want to do is behave and dress more like boys every day. Do you know, in a school near where I live, the girls wear trousers as part of their winter uniform instead of skirts or gym tunics? I just don't understand it.'

'Yes' added Maude, 'I've noticed it's just the same with my two girls, although thank goodness their school still insists on a traditional style of uniform for them. Mind you, they still hate wearing it because they get teased terribly by the girls from other less formal schools. As soon as Jennifer and Hilary get home they can't get out of their uniform and into slacks and T shirts quickly enough. Anything as long as it isn't a dress.'

'Well it's nice to see that Lucy hasn't been converted yet' said Mary, smiling at me. 'Susan, she really does look charming. That dress she's wearing is so pretty, and exactly how I like younger girls to look. Just look at her, sitting up properly, legs neatly crossed, hands together on her lap. And the matching ribbons in her hair complete the picture so well.'

'That's just what I was thinking' said Audrey, 'She really is as pretty as a picture. Lucy, do you usually dress like that at home?' I looked at her, smiled sweetly, and decided to indulge in a little bit of fun. With my imagination in full flight I said 'Oh yes, mummy insists on it. I'm not allowed to wear trousers at any time. Once, my brother lent me his jeans, although she'd warned him not to. He and I went out together and she was furious when we arrived back home. She said that since he wanted to swap clothes with me she'd do the job properly, so she punished him by taking him out the next day wearing one of my dresses with ankle socks and a pair of sweet little strap shoes. She put bows in his hair, and then made him go with her to a fair that she knew all his school friends were going to. They never let him forget it. He cried most of the day, and he never lent me any of his things again.'

'My goodness' laughed Mary, 'Now that is what I call a punishment. Ingenious, but very effective I should think.'

'Oh definitely' said Maude, 'Actually, when I was in my teens, one of my friends and I tricked my brother Eric into trying on my school uniform just for fun. Unfortunately for him, what he didn't know was that my friend's older brother John was standing by to complete the joke in a way he didn't expect. Along with a couple of my other schoolfriends, we dragged Eric out to John's car, forced him into it, and took him for a nice long drive. We found a quiet spot to stop, and we four girls pulled Eric out onto the pavement. John drove off, so Eric had no choice but to walk home with us dressed as a schoolgirl. It took about three hours, and he was so embarrassed. He didn't have a wig of course, so as you can imagine, we had a really fun filled walk home. It still makes me smile when I think of it.'

Even Miss Hurley grinned slightly at the idea, and added 'Well whatever, I'm delighted to see Lucy looking so sweet and demure. She looks lovely. A pleasure to look at I must say.'

'Yes' ventured Susan, 'Only this morning I was looking at her and thinking how much she reminds me of those paintings of little girls by Sir Joshua Reynolds in the 18th century.'

'Absolutely' said Miss Hurley, 'Exactly my feelings. You are astute my dear.' It was by now obvious that we had completely fooled the three ladies, and I felt quite proud of myself. A little later, Mrs. Munro served tea and sandwiches, and I helped out, politely handing round the sandwiches and generally behaving in the demure manner expected of me.

Finally it was time to go, so we stood up and made our polite farewells. Kate saw Susan and me to the door, and as we went outside she looked at me and smiled. 'Well you were a hit Lucy. I haven't seen the old dragon approve of anyone so much in ages. Well done.' Susan smiled at me knowingly, and we started walking home.

'Well I'd say that was a resounding success' grinned Susan, 'No doubt about it Lucy, you really were the perfect little girl. A couple of weeks ago I wouldn't have thought it possible, but I think we can say that you passed that test with flying colours. Now all we have to do is get you ready for our weekend in Brighton. And I think you're going to be quite a hit, you cute little girl you.' She looked at me and grinned approvingly. I smiled back, and couldn't resist skipping along the pavement. Lucy was ready.

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

The next few days passed quickly, and Susan made sure that I went into town every day, because she knew that my confidence grew with every visit. And I realised that everyone who saw me took me for a little girl without a second thought by now. I no longer needed any correction from Susan as far as talking, sitting, standing and walking was concerned, and I'd become completely immersed in my new personality as Lucy.

In the evenings she made me read girl's books and annuals that she'd read as a little girl, and this was reinforced by watching several videos such as Pollyanna and Anne of Green Gables. I was entranced, and threw myself into the part, which was now completely natural for me. I leant to dress myself properly without help, and by this time had no difficulty in fastening and unfastening the buttons up the back of my dress, and tying the sash belt in a neat bow behind me. Even putting on my wig became second nature to me, and I was now able to be Lucy in every possible way without any further assistance from my sister. She'd done a good job.

The following Friday our journey down to Brighton finally arrived, and Susan woke me at six thirty. Pulling back the curtains, she said 'Come on Lucy, off to the bathroom. I'm going to make you look your prettiest today.' I made my way to the bathroom to wash, and by the time I returned to my room, she had all my clothes laid out ready for me to put on. She'd selected my favourite primrose yellow dress with a peter pan collar and short puffed sleeves. First I was put into a white vest and matching pale yellow knickers with little bows on, and then it was time for the dress. Susan held it up and I obediently slipped my arms into the sleeves, and put my head through. She pulled it down over me, buttoned it up the back, and fastened the hook and eye behind my neck. Next came the sash belt, which she tied behind me in a large, neat non-slip bow. Sitting me down, she put a pair of white ankle socks onto my feet, and turned the tops down neatly. On top of these went my white leather sandals, securely buckled on.

Now came my wig. She placed it carefully on my head, brushed it, and tied a neat bow of pale yellow hair ribbon in my hair on each side of my head. Finally she made sure that they wouldn't fall out by securing them firmly with two yellow plastic hair slides. On this occasion, she took a small jar of stage make up spirit gum, and carefully brushed it onto my hairline before pressing the edges of the wig down firmly. Secured like this, I knew that there was now little chance of the wig slipping off my head and giving the game away.

'Let's have a look at you' said Susan, and stood back. 'Oh yes' she smiled, 'You look just perfect. Yes, you'll pass little girl, so let's go down and have some breakfast.'

We went downstairs for breakfast in the kitchen, and as we ate, she looked at me and smiled. 'Well I must say' she said, 'If I saw you walking down the street now I wouldn't even give you a second glance you look so convincing. You've even acquired a lovely demure little expression, and your walk and mannerisms are spot on. Yes, I think I've created the perfect little girl. You look lovely.'

Still with the tiniest doubt in my mind, I said 'But are you sure they'll really take me as a little girl? I'd hate for them to guess that I'm really a boy, it would be so humiliating!'

'Now now, let's have none of that. Believe me, with the way you are now, there's absolutely no chance of them finding out. Remember, people only see what they think they see, so there's no reason to worry unless your wig falls off, and stuck on your head with spirit gum like that, there's no chance. No, everything will be fine. Now stop worrying, finish your breakfast, and just enjoy a weekend of being Lucy.' Her reassurance was enough to convince me, and from then on I had no qualms.

Breakfast over, we washed up before going upstairs to pack a suitcase. Susan carefully selected the most childish little dresses for me to wear, as she knew how much I enjoyed pretending to be as young as possible. As she folded them carefully to put them in the case, she looked at me, smiled, and said 'Tell you what Lucy. I know how much you want to be a sweet little girl, so why don't we tell them you're only eight years old. With your size I'm sure we'll get away with it. Would you like that?'

'Oh yes' I said, my eyes shining, 'A little girl of eight! That would be lovely!'

'All right' she smiled, 'We'll tell them you're eight, but remember, that means you have to show an interest in little girl things such as dollies and so on. Understood?'

'Sure' I said, 'Just watch me!'

'OK then' she said, 'You're my little eight year old cousin Lucy from Canterbury. Now let's finish packing.'

A few minutes later the case was packed, and we were ready to leave. We went into the hall and Susan put on her bright red shiny PVC hooded raincoat. Then she took down my red mackintosh and handed it to me. 'It's quite fine at the moment Lucy' she said, 'So you don't need to wear your mac yet. Just carry it over your arm for now. There's some rain forecast for later though, and you'll probably need it then.' I hung my mackintosh over my arm, and Susan picked up our suitcase before we stepped out through the front door and walked down the path into the street on our way to the bus stop. The bus into town arrived almost immediately, and we climbed aboard.

By this time I was beginning to acquire some confidence as to my appearance, so I sat demurely and quietly next to Susan, and no one even glanced at me twice. It felt wonderful to sit there, knowing that everyone who saw me assumed I was a sweet little girl. Considering my appearance, hardly surprising.

We got off the bus at Horsham station and went into the booking hall. At the ticket office Susan said 'One period return to Brighton for me please, and one for the little girl.' She knew I liked being called a little girl, and smiled at me. After collecting our tickets, we went through the gate and onto the train platform. I stood there in the sunshine while we waited for our train, my feet neatly together and my arms crossed in front of me with my mac hanging over them. After a short wait our train arrived and we got in. We found a seat facing forward, and Susan sat me next to the window. I went to put my mackintosh on the luggage rack, but she said 'No Lucy, keep it on your lap. You don't want to lose it do you?' I certainly didn't, so I held the mac on my lap for the rest of the journey. We had to change trains at Three Bridges, and after a short wait, the Brighton train arrived and we climbed aboard.

The journey to Brighton took about half an hour, and as we came out of the station a cold sea breeze blew in our faces. 'Goodness, it's a bit chilly' said Susan. 'You'd better put on your mac now Lucy, give it to me.' She took the mackintosh from me, and held it up while I slipped my arms into it. Then she buttoned it up to my neck, and did up the belt. 'I don't think you need your hood up for now' she said, so standing behind me she tidied the hood so that it hung down from my shoulders neatly. 'There, that's better' she said. 'Feel warmer now?' I did, and was glad to be wearing it. 'Come along then' said Susan, putting up her own raincoat hood, 'It isn't very far.' We walked through the town to Carol and Fiona's home, and once again no one took any notice of me. They just assumed that they were seeing a teenage girl and her little sister or cousin.

We finally arrived at the house, and as we stopped at the door, Susan said to me 'Now remember Lucy, this is the acid test. Don't forget for a minute that you're my cousin Lucy, and you're eight years old, so play the part and don't let me down, all right?'

'Don't worry sis' I said, 'I've had enough practice by now.'

'Yes, I know you have' she said, 'Well let's find out, shall we?' She rang the bell, and a moment later, a pleasant faced girl of about Susan's age opened the door to let us in.

'Hi Sue' she said, 'Here you are at last. Come on in out of the cold, that sea breeze is freezing.' We entered the hallway and she looked at me, smiled and said 'I'm Carol, and you must be Lucy. Susan told me all about you. Here, let me take your coats.' Susan put down our case and we removed our raincoats for her to hang up. As I handed my mackintosh to her she held it up and said 'I used to have one just like this when I was a little girl.' She smiled at me as she hung it up before leading the way into the lounge.

Another girl was standing there, and Carol looked at me again, smiled, and said 'Lucy, this is Fiona.' Fiona looked at me, smiled, and said 'So you're cousin Lucy. That's a sweet little dress you're wearing, isn't it? How old are you?' I took a momentary breath, and then in my best little girl voice I said 'Eight.'

'Eight? Well my goodness Lucy, you're a big girl for eight aren't you? Looks like you're going to be tall, like your cousin Susan here.'

'I hope so' I said, timidly and demurely, hoping I wasn't pushing my luck by pretending to be eight years old.

'Well let's sit down shall we?' said Carol, and we all sat down in some armchairs.

The girls were mostly intent on catching up with all their news, and I tended to be left out of the conversation, which suited me well. I just sat there watching and listening as I concentrated on maintaining my appearance as a sweet little girl of eight. I tingled with pleasure inside at the illusion.

Eventually, Carol said 'Mum and Mick are out at the moment. They'll be back later, so why don't we go for a walk on the sea front in the meantime? I know it's blowing a bit of a gale, but I love walking by the sea when there's a gale. Be all right if we wrap up.'

'Yes, why not?' said Susan, 'Haven't seen the sea for about three months. We can take Lucy on the pier to the amusements and then go for a pizza or something. By the way, did you say Mick? Your younger sister's called Michaela.'

'Yes I know' grinned Carol, 'But she insists on being called Mick. She's a ten year old tomboy whose favourite pastime is to push around any boy she can, just to prove she's as tough as they are. In some ways she's more of a boy than many boys her age, good at sport, and able to mix it with the best of them. Trouble is, she isn't just a tomboy, she really does hate being a girl, and often says she wishes she'd been born a boy because they get all the fun. She detests wearing dresses of course, and as soon as she gets home from school she pulls off her primary school uniform (which she hates wearing), and she's straight into jeans and a T shirt. Then more often as not she's out with her friends as the leader of the gang, both girls and boys. She's only interested in rough and tumble activities instead of mixing with other girls her age who want to indulge in more feminine pursuits. Needless to say, dolls and dressing up have always been anathema to her.'

'Mum long ago gave up trying to turn her into a young lady of course, and the word demure just isn't part of the vocabulary when you describe her. It takes all of our powers of persuasion to entice her into wearing a dress for any occasion, and even then her co-operation is like getting blood out of a stone. Yep, she's a tomboy all right, and nothing like Lucy here. You'll find that out for yourself when she gets home.'

'Fascinating' said Susan, 'A girl who wants to be a boy,' and she looked at me and winked. I could see the irony of it and grinned back at her. If only they'd realised that I was the exact opposite, a boy who wanted to be a girl.

'Well let's go shall we?' said Carol, and we all stood up and went into the hall to put on our coats. By now I didn't need any help to put on my mackintosh, and Susan simply handed it to me to put on. I buttoned it up to the neck and fastened the belt around my waist. Sue wore her red PVC raincoat, while Carol put on a royal blue PVC belted raincoat with a hood, and Fiona had a matching style in bright safety yellow. 'Well you won't get run over wearing that, will you?' laughed Susan.

Carol opened the front door, and we could see that it was pouring with rain by now. 'Oh yuck' said Fiona, 'Hoods up everybody.' Not wishing to see me disturb my wig, even though it was firmly glued on, Susan stepped in front of me, put up my mackintosh hood, tied the tapes under my chin in a bow, and fastened the storm flap button. It would certainly keep my head dry. 'There we are' she smiled, that'll keep you nice and dry Lucy, won't it?' Pulling the hood forward she smiled and said 'You know Carol, I always think little girls look so sweet when they wear their mackintosh hoods up' she said. 'I suppose they look a bit like a bonnet don't they?'

'Yes, I know what you mean' said Carol, 'As I said earlier, I used to have a mackintosh exactly the same as this one. Mind you, by the time I was ten I hated wearing it because I thought it made me look so babyish, and when Mum suggested I handed it down to Michaela she flatly refused to wear it of course. But I still think they're a good idea' she added, 'These rubberised satinette raincoats are so waterproof as well as making the wearer look like a proper little girl. I mean, just look at Lucy, she looks so sweet peeping out from under that hood.'

She opened the front door, and we all stepped out into the pouring rain. The sea breeze blew the driving rain hard against my mackintosh, and I must admit that I was glad to be wearing it as the rain bounced off it and ran down onto my bare legs, soaking my feet in their short ankle socks and sandals. As we walked along the sea front, the hem of my wet mackintosh slapped against my bare legs, and the hood restricted my field of view. But I knew how much like a little girl it made me look, and despite this minor discomfiture, I couldn't help beaming with pleasure.

We made our way along the sea front past a raging English Channel, and as the wind and rain beat down on us I felt so warm and snug inside my mackintosh. The satin textured rubberised cotton did its job and kept me completely dry. Except for my soggy legs and feet.

We went onto the Palace Pier and into the amusement arcade, and spent some time enjoying ourselves. I was careful not to hit the buttons of the machines too vigorously, preferring to use gentle little taps as I imagined a little girl would do.

Eventually, Carol suggested that we should go for something to eat, and crossing the road from the pier, we went into the laneways of old Brighton and found an Italian pizza restaurant. We went in, removed our wet raincoats, and putting them over the backs of our chairs, sat down to eat. We shared a family sized pizza, and I concentrated on eating as daintily as I could, just as my sister had taught me, and took small sips of my lemonade.

Our meal over, the girls paid the bill, and putting our raincoats on again, we left the restaurant to go home. The rain had stopped, so Susan arranged my mackintosh hood so that it hung neatly down my back, and we walked back to Carol's house.

Carol opened the door and we went in. We took off our raincoats and hung them up in the hall while we could hear voices coming from the kitchen. We walked through into the room to find Carol's mother Wendy together with what I took to be a boy of about my age. At least, he looked like a boy. He was a couple of inches taller than me, and looked very fit. He had short blonde hair, and was wearing a shirt and jeans, together with a pair of brown leather sandals. But the illusion was contradicted when Carol introduced her mother and sister Michaela. I kept staring at her, hardly able to believe I was actually looking at a girl. There was little doubt about her being a tomboy, and this was made obvious when Carol introduced her with 'And this is my sister Michaela.'

'Mick! How many times do I have to tell you it's Mick!' came the sharp retort from Michaela.

'Sorry' grinned Carol, quickly correcting herself, 'Mick.'

With that little bit of confusion cleared up, we all sat round the kitchen table for a chat. Wendy kept looking at me and smiling, obviously pleased with my appearance, and no doubt wishing that Michaela was more like me. If she'd only realised what that would really mean!

The conversation round the table turned toward adult matters, and after a short while both Michaela and I began to fidget with boredom. Fortunately, Wendy was an observant mother, and turning to Michaela said 'Mick, why don't you take Lucy up to your room and show her some of your things. I'm sure you'd rather do that than sit here with us.' Michaela looked slightly relieved and said 'Yeah, OK Mum.' She looked at me and said 'Come on Lucy, come on upstairs and I'll show you my stuff.' We both stood up, and she led the way upstairs and into her room.

It was hardly what you would call a typical little girl's bedroom. Not a sign of femininity, in fact quite the opposite. The colour pink was totally missing. The walls were covered in football posters, and several model aeroplanes were hanging from the ceiling. In one corner was a pair of football boots and a signed football on a small stand stood on the chest of drawers. She picked it up and showed it to me proudly. 'Look at this' she said, 'All the Brighton team signatures. They're not the actual ones of course, just copies. Still, it's better than nothing.'

'Do you like football?' I said, stating the obvious, but fascinated all the same.

'Sure do' she said, putting down the football in its pride of place, 'I play in the school eleven. I'm the only girl in the team, but to them I'm just one of the boys anyway. One day I'm going to be a boy. They say you can have an operation or something, so that's what I'm going to do as soon as I'm old enough. Mum says I've got to wait until I leave school, and says I'll grow out of it. She's dead against the idea of course. She wants me to be an issy prissy little girl, but I'm not, and never will be. Worst of all, next year she's sending me to an all girl's boarding school to try and change me, but it won't, I know it won't. I'm going to hate it!'

The vehemence of her comments made me realise that her hatred of being a girl was even greater than my dislike of being a boy. It seemed so unfair that we should both be trapped in the wrong bodies. If only we could have swapped. For a brief moment I was tempted to confide in her and reveal my true self, but felt that it wasn't wise at that stage. Perhaps later.

Stepping back to look at me for a moment, she grinned and said 'Well it's obvious you don't mind being a girl, do you? Look at you. Do you mean to say you actually like dressing like that? I mean, I don't want to upset you, but you look like a six year old. That dress is so babyish. And two pretty little bows in your hair? Ugh. I've got several dresses like yours and I hate them' she added, opening the door of her wardrobe, 'Just look at this lot.' She took out two dresses and held them up for me to see. They were similar to the dress I was wearing, and it was obvious what she thought of them.

'I've never worn these two' she said proudly, 'And I'm never going to either. Mum bought them for me, but I've told her it was a waste of money. Tank goodness I've grown out of them now, so she'll never be able to make me wear them anyway.' Suddenly she looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, grinned, and said 'Hang on just a minute.' She hung one of the dresses up again and held the other one against me. Then she smiled and said 'As I thought. They'd fit you quite nicely I reckon. How would you like me to ask Mum if you can have them? That's if you'd like them.'

Like them? My heart leaped at the thought of owning such pretty little dresses, and fingering the material I said 'I'd love to if you're sure it would be all right.'

'All right? You bet it is. That way I can see the back of them, and the sooner the better. Mind you, I still can't understand how even you at your age you actually want to look so cute and little girlish. Still, your choice I suppose. Now let's see what else I've got that you can have.'

Her wardrobe was an Aladdin's cave of the very little girl style clothes I so adored. Pretty little dresses, petticoats, sweet little strap shoes in various colours. All too small for her, but just my size. I could barely believe my luck. Suddenly Michaela leaned into the wardrobe and took out a pink plastic Barbie raincoat with an attached hood and a pair of matching rubber boots. They were both decorated with little Barbie logos and hearts, and she put the boots down. Taking the raincoat off its hanger she grinned and said 'Here we are Lucy, this will really make you look like a six year old. Try it on.' Little did she realise how much I liked the idea.

She held it up for me to put on, and I slipped my arms into the cold plastic sleeves. She fastened all the press studs up to my neck, and then said 'Now take off your shoes and we'll see if the boots fit.' I bent down and removed my shoes, and then pushed my foot into the right boot. It slipped down into it, and with a slightly harder push, it plopped into the foot of the boot. I did the same with the other one, and then stood in front of the full-length mirror to have a look at myself. The mac and boots certainly fitted me, in fact the sleeves of the mac came down nearly to my finger tips.

'Oh yes, very nice' grinned Michaela. 'Just a moment, I'll put the hood up.' She stepped forward, pulled the pointed pixie hood up over my head, and tied the tie tapes under my chin in a bow. Then she pulled the hood forward and stepped back to admire me. 'Oh yes' she chuckled, 'Very sweet. My goodness Lucy, you look like a six year old!' I wasn't going to argue. I certainly looked the very essence of a sweet and demure little girl peeping out from under the hood.

'Would you believe' said Michaela, 'My aunt Rosie actually bought that for me only a couple of years ago. As if I'd wear a Barbie raincoat at that age! Still, it fits you, so you're welcome to it. If you want it that is.'

'Want it? I'd love it' I said, my eyes shining. I had no idea how I was going to hide all this stuff from my mother, but I decided to cross that bridge when I came to it. In the meantime I was tingling with anticipation at the thought of suddenly owning such a sweet little collection of little girl clothes.

'Tell you what Lucy' said Michaela, taking my hand, 'Let's go downstairs and ask Mum if it's all right for you to have these things. Looking like you do in that Barbie mac at the moment, I'm sure she'll say yes, you just look so cute!' She led the way down the stairs and back into the kitchen. The girls and their mother looked up, and Susan looked at me with a smile of approval. She could guess how I was feeling.

'My goodness' said Wendy with a slight grin, 'Someone's all ready for the rain isn't she? What's this for, are you two going out?'

'No Mum' said Michaela, 'I've been showing Lucy some of the dresses I've grown out of. They'd fit her perfectly, so I was thinking it would be a nice idea if we gave them to her.'

'Well' said Wendy with a sigh, 'Considering you refuse to wear them and they are too small for you now anyway, it seems to be a sensible idea.' Turning to me, she smiled and said 'Would you like them Lucy?' What an offer. I couldn't believe my luck, and the broad grin on my sister's face told me she was reading my mind. With my heart beating I said 'Oh yes please Mrs. Taylor, I'd love to have them!' My excitement was obvious, and she smiled and said 'Very well then, whatever fits you, you can take home with you. Including that Barbie raincoat and those wellies. Mick's always refused to wear them even once. The only raincoat she ever wears is her navy blue school gaberdine, and even then she buttons it up on the boy's side. She even threw away the hood as soon as I bought it because she said it was so girly. I was going to give her dresses and that Barbie mac to a charity shop, but if you're sure you want them, you're welcome to them. And I must say you do look delightfully sweet in that mac and boots. They really do suit you.' My joy was complete, and I beamed with pleasure.

That settled, I beamed at my sister, and she smiled back, knowing full well how happy I must be feeling. 'Oh by the way Lucy' added Wendy, 'Mick's going to her friend's birthday party tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to go? I'm sure you'd find it more interesting than staying around here with your sister and her friends. So boring for you here, and I'm sure you'd find it more fun.' The idea of attending a little girl's party as one of them sounded just too good to be true, and I eagerly nodded in the affirmative. Looking at my obvious expression of delight, she smiled and said 'Yes?'

'Oh yes I'd love to go' I said.

'Good, that's settled then, and I tell you what. Maybe you'd like to wear one of Michaela's party dresses. I'm sure we can find one that will suit you. She certainly won't be wearing it.'

'You bet I won't' growled Michaela. 'And Mum, how many more times do I have to tell you it's Mick now!'

'Oh dear, I forgot. Sorry Mick' said Wendy with a grin, and turning to me she said 'Yes Lucy, we'll find you something really pretty, and you'll be the belle of the ball!' Michaela rolled her eyes upwards to display her obvious distaste with the very idea, and her mother seemed to rapidly be warming to me as a substitute for the little girl she so much wanted Michaela to be. I could hardly disguise my delight as I anticipated the wonderful experience of being a little girl at a party with her unsuspecting assistance. I could hardly believe my luck.

'All right then' she said, 'That's settled. I'll take Michaela (sorry, Mick) and Lucy to Jennifer Mottram's party tomorrow afternoon, while you three can get ready for your party tomorrow night.'

'Sounds good' said Carol, 'Lucy can keep Mick company and we can get on with enjoying ourselves.' She obviously had no wish to have a kid sister hanging around her neck for the evening, and seemed to welcome this heaven sent opportunity to keep Michaela out of her hair. Especially with her mother to help.

So it was settled then. The next day I was going to spend the entire day as the sweet little girl I'd always yearned to be, known as a boy only by my sister, who was more than happy to fulfil my dream. She sure is some sister.

Wendy seemed to delight in taking me in hand, and she took me up to Michaela's room, where she helped me to sort out those articles of clothing that I was to be given. Michaela helped by throwing out everything in the way of feminine garb that she could find, obviously pleased to be emptying her wardrobe of anything that smacked of the world of sweet little girls. The pile on her bed grew. Dresses, petticoats, little girl style shoes, knickers and even ankle socks if they had a childish lacy frill around the ankle. Anything feminine. She certainly relished the chance of divesting herself of anything that indicated that she was a girl. She simply rejected the very concept, and smiled at me as if I was an ally in her wish to become a boy.

As the sort out came to a finish, Wendy said 'Well Lucy, would you like to wear one of these dresses for the party tomorrow? Any favourites yet?'

The choice was almost too much for me. After all, I'd never been given the chance to make such a choice before. My heart pounding with anticipation, I lifted each dress up in turn and held it up to my front while I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to imagine myself wearing it. To my unpractised eye it was difficult to decide, until I found myself holding up the most delightful pink dress decorated with little rosebuds. Like the others, it was in the usual little girl style with a peter pan collar, short puffed sleeves with a button fastening down the back, and a sash belt to be tied in a bow behind the waist. A sweet little smocked pattern of little girls wearing bonnets was embroidered across the front, and it couldn't have summed up the very essence of being a little girl. The moment I held it up I gasped with delight and said 'Oh this is lovely!'

Even Wendy looked slightly puzzled. 'Are you sure?' she said. 'I mean, it's very pretty Lucy, but isn't it a bit young for you? It would look lovely on a little girl of five or six, but at eight, are you sure you want to wear a dress like that? It does look a bit babyish.'

But little did she know that after years of deprivation of my ideal, that was exactly how I wished to look. I really wanted to look as much like a little girl as possible, and without thinking I blurted out 'But I love it! Please can I wear this dress to the party? Please?'

Michaela rolled her eyes upwards in despair again, gave a groan of disbelief, and looked steadfastly out of the window as if she wished she were somewhere else.

But Wendy was determined that her new little guest should be given what she wanted. 'All right then Lucy' she smiled, 'If that's the dress you want to wear, then so you shall. And I'm glad you picked that one because I bought it for Michaela as a party frock and she's never worn it. Now let's see what you can wear with it shall we?'

It didn't take her long to find underclothes and shoes and socks to match the dress, and when she'd completed my ensemble she took us downstairs to show Carol, Fiona and Susan what I was to wear to Jennifer's party the next day. The girls looked at the party frock as Wendy held it up for them to inspect, and Susan said 'Oh that's perfect. She'll absolutely love wearing that, won't you Lucy?' She smiled at me, and the sisterly and brotherly love flowed as I looked at her, grinned, and said 'Oh yes, I don't think I've ever worn anything that I wanted to wear as much as this to a party!' It was hard not to laugh as Susan gave me a secretive wink. She knew that I actually meant it, and it was lovely. Our little secret.

'Come on Sue' said Carol, 'I'd better show you and Lucy to your room. Would you like to come upstairs?' She led the way, and picking up our suitcase from the hallway, my sister and I followed her upstairs to the room where we were to sleep. Susan had wisely arranged things appropriately beforehand, so the arrangement was that she and I would share a double bed in a room on our own. Since my wig had to be removed while I slept, this was obviously essential for the preservation of our secret. But I had to grin when I remembered that I hadn't shared a bed with my older sister since I was about three.

Our sleeping arrangements completed, we went downstairs again to where Wendy was preparing the evening meal with our help. Needless to say, I was given a pretty frilly apron to wear so as not to dirty my dress as I peeled the vegetables.

Dinner was for me a sheer delight. I sat up at the table with my back straight and my legs crossed neatly, while I ate my meal as demurely as possible, just as Susan had taught me. The occasional smile of approval from Wendy told me everything I needed to know about how convincing I'd become in the illusion of being a little girl. I was loving every minute of it.

After our meal, I enthusiastically helped with the washing up, and once the dinner things were put away, we settled down in the lounge in front of the fire to watch TV. But it wasn't long before the day's excitement was catching up with me, and by my third yawn Susan said 'I think one little girl's ready for bed, eh Lucy?'

I was tired, and didn't need second bidding, so I rose to my feet, and Susan said 'Come on sleepyhead, I'll see you to bed.' Almost instinctively, Wendy rose to give me a hug, and kissed me on the forehead. 'Night night Lucy' she smiled, 'Sleep tight, and I'll see you in the morning.'

'Good night everybody' I blinked, and to a chorus of goodnights I was led upstairs by my sister.

As soon as Susan and I were safe in our room she said 'Now then Lucy, go to the bathroom, clean your teeth and go to the toilet. You can't sleep in your wig, so I've got to take it off for the night in a moment, and we can't have anyone seeing you without that, can we?' I didn't need second bidding, so I did as she instructed, and was soon back in our room, ready to go to bed.

Susan sat me down on the bed, and carefully removed my wig. She'd brought a wig stand with her, and she brushed the wig thoroughly before hanging it carefully on the stand. Then she removed all traces of spirit gum from my skin before I undressed. She shook out an ankle length wincyette pink nightdress that she'd worn as a little girl and helped me into it. It felt so warm and comfortable, and I visibly relaxed as I climbed into bed and laid my head on the pillow.

I looked up at my sister and she smiled down at me tenderly. 'Goodnight little Lucy' she said tenderly, and kissed me on the forehead. 'Happy dreams, and I'll see you in the morning.'

She went to the door, looked back at me and said 'Sweet dreams little girl.' I could have cried with happiness as she closed the door behind her and I drifted off into the land of Nod. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

(continued)

  

  

  

*********************************************
© 2005 by Jennifer. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, and compilation design) may be printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without the express written consent of StorySite and the copyright holder.