Wonderland Fantasy

by Anne O’Nonymous

 

Part 6

Back in the bedroom, I started preparing for bed. I was all the way down to my undies and stockings when I realized Dani was still there. So, I did what any red-blooded girl would do; I continued undressing!

"Dani," I remarked, " if I have any ideas, would you like to hear them?"

"Of course, sweetie."

"I’m going to take a shower, and then I’m going to hit the hay."

"Put your stuff in the hamper. I’ll have April wake you in the morning. Have a real good night."

"Good night, Dani!"

Well, I got the cosmetics off, followed that with the skin cleanser, and then the solo shower. I genuinely felt lonely. But shower was great, the skin lotion really felt good, and the aromatic powder had a lovely floral scent. I was going to love being Alice! Returning to the room, towel properly wrapped chest (or breast) high, I located a satin peach-colored bra-and-panty set. The bra was a little trouble, but I found I could fasten it in front and twist it around. I wonder if there is a name for that maneuver? The floral-patterned, long-sleeved, pink satin ankle-length nightgown had a lace inset bodice, and two rows of lace around the wrists and hem. It seemed similar to what a movie star might wear in some Turner million-dollar classic. I checked under the bed and found slippers for the morning, and on the back of the entrance door, a robe.

Then, it struck me: if I put out the lights, how was I going to find the bed. As I turned down the satin sheets, I looked at the headboard. On the top was a reading lamp, so all I had to do was put that on. Also there was what looked like an aircraft engineer’s control panel, with several switches and dials. After trying a few, I found they could control all the room lights, and almost everything else in the room; including, set the air conditioner and tune a built-in radio.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I swung my legs around and under the sheets. After a few attempts, the air conditioner was on and set, and all the lights were out. Laying there in the dark, I wondered what I could do to help my sister. I had an idea, only I didn’t know if it would work. There was the very soft sound of a door opening, closing, and then silence. Somebody had entered the room, so I fumbled with the control panel to put on a light. I almost succeeded when I felt the covers being lifted and a body slid into bed next to me.

"Move over a bit, would you," a familiar voice said.

"Jan? Jan, is that you?" I inquired, as I slid over to the other pillow.

"Yeah, little sis."

As close as we were, I had never in my life slept in the same bed as my sister. My parents didn’t think it was right. Now here we are, just inches from each other, in nightgowns. Oddly enough, I didn’t view this as strange; after all, we are now sisters.

Jan had moved closer, and I could feel her hand as she groped for me in the dark. When she found me, I was pulled closer to her, and could feel her lips as she kissed me, and her arms encircle me, holding me tight, squeezing my body against hers.

"You are the greatest, Dave. I just can’t say it enough."

"Jan, it’s Alice."

"I know. It’s just that over the past few days I realized how much you actually mean to me. This is a dream job, and you got it for me. Please, don’t protest – I’m going to do whatever I can to make you happy."

At that pronouncement, she rolled over on her back, still holding my hand. I had thought of some ideas, and I wondered if Jan might be interested. (No, not that – she is, after all, my sister!)

"Jan, about Wonderland. I’ve some ideas I’d like to share with you," I said.

"Let’s hear them. We can pass them on to Dani and see what she thinks."

"Alright! Why not a bimonthly Tea Party with one of the store employees dressed as the Mad Hatter? It would have actual tea served with scones or tea biscuits, and a show of the latest the store has to offer. We might even give away ten or twenty percent off coupons to other non-clothing stores in the area."

"Okay, I’ll pass that on to Dani."

"Also, decorate the stores with white rabbits. Maybe section the stores like Alice’s Wonderland – even dress the employees as characters . . ."

"Hey, sis, let’s get some sleep and discuss this with Dani in the morning, shall we? I love you, Alice," Jan said.

"And I love you too much to measure, sis."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

" . . . The expected high for today will be 73 degrees, with a low of 62 tonight. There is a thirty percent chance of mid-afternoon showers, and a twenty-five percent chance of rain tonight. And now, sports -- Rocky Johnson’s eighth inning triple, with two men on, pushed the Buffalos past the Dogs . . ."

I did not expect to be jolted out of a sound sleep by an overly loud sports report, and neither did Jan.

"What the hell was that?"

"I was fumbling around last night and somehow I must have set a radio alarm," I admitted as I found the switch and shut off the offending instrument. I would have preferred April or Della voicing a "Good Morning" versus a radio any time. Since the lace-curtained windows were rather well lit, I suspected it was time to get up, anyway.

"What time is it, anyway?"

Looking around, I found the clock inconspicuously sitting on a nightstand beside the bed. A look confirmed my suspicions.

"Eight-oh-five," I intoned.

Jan pulled back the covers, swung around and put on her mules. I followed her lead. Soon, the two of us headed for the bathroom for a quick "nature call" and a wash. In the bedroom, we dressed in our robes and headed down to breakfast.

"I was just coming to get you," April said. "Breakfast will be on the table in five minutes."

Did I detect a note of disappointment in her voice?

Again, I sat by Dani, Amy to my right, April claimed the seat across from me, and Jan sat to her left.

May and Gina served the breakfast, consisting of a Spanish omelet for each, soy sausages (it’s getting to be rather popular), home fries (done in Canola oil), OJ, English muffins and tea or coffee. When all were seated, plates went around the table in a remarkably graceful ballet. I remembered my "please" and "thank you," but Dani said, "Relax. We know you have decent manners; we’re all friends here."

With all the food I was consuming, I was beginning to reconsider the corset. Then again, all it would take is just smaller portions. Well, the corset would see to that.

As Della and Gina cleared off the dishes and we were drinking coffee, I brought up the subject of Wonderland.

"Dani, last night I had an some ideas about Wonderland, and Jan and I started to discuss it. Would you be open to suggestions?"

"Of course. You don’t need to ask. Let me get a legal pad."

I started off with the tea party, noting the strict attention of both. That was followed by, "Also, we could dress store employees in costumes, like characters in Wonderland."

"So, the store manager would be the Red Queen, and the clerks a deck of cards. Is that the idea?" Dani asked. "Or would they be something like the Duchess or the Cheshire Cat?"

"Well, we could have neon grins in the stores that would light up, then slowly fade out," contributed Jan.

"Sounds doable," Dani remarked thoughtfully.

After a few more suggestions, discussion, agreement or disagreement, we decided to call a halt as our coffee was finished and the pot empty. Dani had a lot of ideas written down, many of which we decided to kick upstairs to Ms. Angelis.

And speaking of Ms. Angelis, there was something that was nagging me. "Didn’t you say Ms. Steele lived in that big house?"

"Ms. Steele was her name when she bought the house. Her third husband subsequently walked out on her, roughly four years ago. She now uses her maiden name in business."

The morning was taken up with my vocal presentation. I had to learn how to soften my voice, gesture properly, even which words to use and when. I never noticed that Jan and I spoke the same language in a different manner. Words like adorable, precious, and cute were going to be a semi-permanent part of my vocabulary. I got a lecture on hair care from Amy, fashion from Dani, and manicuring from Della.

At the noon break, I was still in a nightie, slippers and robe. After eating a salad consisting of greens, sliced hard-boiled eggs, chopped onions and tomatoes, with a green tea, I was taken upstairs for clothes work. Dani again pointed out where everything was, and then we started in on colors. If you can name only the colors of the rainbow (a hint – roy g biv), you’re a man. A woman, on a daily basis, deals with Taupe, Suntan, Nude, Watermelon, Lime, Lemon, Cherry, Grape, Peach, Plum, Coral, Royal Blue, Sky Blue, Baby Blue, Leaf Green, Grass Green, Ecru, Cerise, and so on, plus a hundred or so lipstick, blush, and eye shadow shades. Just to get dressed, a female becomes a walking calculator.

Don’t get me wrong! This is not a bad thing. Now, pantyhose are! Mistresses invented these items to torture men, or so they seemed. To put them on: the less said, the better!

Well, now I know where everything is, the color of most of the items, and that I want to avoid pantyhose as much as possible. Of course, since I’ll be wearing them to work, that’s impossible. Oh what we girls do to please men!

The rest of the day was almost a routine. I walked, talked, gestured, sat, stood up, went up and down stairs, all in a feminine manner. There was even a session on how to kneel properly to pick up a dropped item. I watched videos of Fashion Shows, paying particular attention to the models as they walked and showed the garment they were wearing.

Since I was to be a fairly young lady (emphasis on lady), it was decided that tights might be more appropriate, and I could wear them through most of the photo sessions, depending on the outfit.

When I started this, I agreed to do this to help my sister. Now, I’m wondering if there isn’t something deep inside me that is being brought out by the soft garments I’m wearing; a different type of energy, for lack of a better word. I actually feel calmer, more at peace, if you will, and the clothes seem to be doing it. In effect, my sister gave me a truly wonderful gift.

Much later, I said my good nights to all and went to bed. In my before-bed shower, Dani joined me. Her comment was, "I drew the shortest straw." I had another lesson that night on Dani. I never thought there were so many uses for a tongue. Anyway, the missionaries had the right idea; the two of us in lavender gowns, kissing right at the most explosive moment -- wow. (And to think that this was just my first full day here!)

"Oh what tangled legs we weave when first we practice to conceive!" Will he shake spear. (Actually, I was supplied with a ribbed, pre-lubed condom.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I woke up being attacked with kisses by Dani and Della. I’m glad there was no lipstick on their lovely lips; otherwise I would have had a very red face. We had a morning wake-up wash together, and did what else was necessary before breakfast.

Downstairs, I was greeted with a hug and kiss by the rest of the family (as I now thought of them). Gina already had the food out, and coffee waiting offstage.

I managed to tackle the scrambled egg/chipped beef/home fries on toast combination rather well. Juice was a large glass of OJ, and coffee later in the library, and with the coffee, came word of today’s events. I was going to have my eyebrows plucked!

"Do I have to," I actually whined.

"Yes," said Amy emphatically, "do you want to look like a Neanderthal?"

"There is no evidence that they had excessive hair on their brows," I muttered by way of a defense.

"And vice-versa, sis," Jan got in.

"We’re only going to shape them a little, don’t be such a sissy," Amy retorted.

"Oh! I thought you were going to remove them completely. You know, so I would only use an eyebrow pencil."

Amy set up a chair under a good light, got her tweezers, proceeded to pull out the offending (in her eyes) hairs, and as each came out, she got a satisfying "ouch" from me. With mirror in hand and scarcely breathing, I was able to observe this delicate operation. I now looked less like a Neanderthal, and more like a lady.

"Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?" Amy said smugly.

I looked over the delicate high arched brows, wondering where my manhood went. I knew, so it was really a rhetorical question – I never lost it, as a result I needn’t ask. I am me, and my name – Dave, Alice, or whatever – is only an appellation, an identifier, and not truly what I am.

Most of the morning was spent in going over loose ends in my education. After the removal of the little girl stuff, I was able to put on the "I am Woman, hear me roar" polish – a bright cherry-red – on both my fingers and toes. There were two clear topcoats making sure that the polish would be on for a while.

It was fairly late in the afternoon when Dani said that we would be going out to dinner. She had already told Gina of her plans, so I would have to select an appropriate outfit.

"Which restaurant are we going to; is it formal?"

"No, it’s a family Seafood/Italian restaurant and rather popular!"

Now I had an idea as to what to wear -- nothing too formal, and no slacks either. Skirt and blouse would be good, as a business suit would be too formal. Light jacket would be okay.

"What’s the weather going to be like?"

"Radio has it as pleasant, fairly cool."

Okay, maybe a long skirt. Flats for shoes, heels just seem too dressy. Just light makeup should do. With an ankle-length skirt, I could wear knee-highs. A bolero jacket matching the skirt would look nice. I was planning this like a campaign, and I can see the headlines now – "Alice invades Long Giovanni Silvers."

"Hey, take it easy! Our reservations are for six thirty tonight. There’s plenty of time."

"Easy for you, Dani. This is my first time out, and I want to do this right."

"Well, I’ll tell you this: most of the people there will probably be in slacks, jeans or something equally casual. What do you have in mind?"

"Ankle-length full skirt, strappy heeled sandals, bolero jacket, and knee-high stockings."

"And underwear?"

"I was thinking a black bra-and-panty set, white cami, an ankle-length half-slip – one with a French lace hem, that sort of thing."

"Now, makeup."

"A light foundation, a touch of pink blush, and, since I’m a young lady, pink or coral lipstick. Oh my god, I forgot! I got to fix it after dinner, and I’ll have to use the ladies’ room. What happens if I get caught? They’ll lynch me."

"You won’t. You’ll have friends with you."

"Well, in that case, that sounds like fun," I said with a big smirk. And it really would. Well, around a quarter after five I started getting ready. A bubble bath with a little perfume added was the starter, next came the drying off and the dusting powder. I just love the smell, actually it was a combination of aromas, of roses and lilacs in the evening. I had used some time in the afternoon to wash and condition my hair. I must remind Amy to set my hair again.

With nothing more than a robe on, I closed and locked my door. I wanted to do this all by myself. First, the black panties and bra went on. I looked in the mirror and I must say they looked as sexy as hell on me; I was falling in love with myself in more ways than one. A white camisole with spaghetti straps was next, then an ankle-length half-slip. Both of these items had lots of lace. (For some unknown reason, I really liked lots of lace. It made me feel feminine, for one thing, and I kind of felt I was catching up to a little girlhood I never had.)

The outerwear was next. A semi-translucent cream-color blouse with V-neck, to show off the lace camisole underneath, was first. I had to decide between royal blue, grass green, and coffee for the skirt. Naturally, to go with the cream, I chose the coffee. Once the skirt was on and zipped up, I checked in the mirror to see if the slip was showing. (One of the lessons I learned is the importance of a full-length mirror to a woman.) I carefully checked the front, and then turned, pushed in on the skirt and looked for white in the reflection. None showed, so I sat on the bed, put on my hose and shoes. For the stockings, I choose a taupe and the shoes were three-strap, dark brown sandals.

For jewelry, Guess ladies watch, set to the correct time, and a silver bracelet. Earrings were questionable, and, in the end, I decided to leave them off, as I would be wearing my locket.

Putting on a plastic cape to protect my clothes, I sat at my vanity and started on the face. A little liquid foundation on the fingers was transferred to the face and smoothed in. After this was done several times, I used a magnifying mirror to check and ensure that the face was blemish free. The same procedure was followed with the blusher, only in a smaller area. I debated the use of eye shadow and liner, but decided to use only mascara. Now, what about the lips? Would it be Cherry Red, Sunset, or Coral? To match my lipstick, cherry was a clear winner. I tried a little on, and looked in the mirror. Well, I didn’t look too tarty – just a girl with luscious red lips. It was lip liner and lipstick, omitting the gloss, and a spritz of perfume behind each ear followed by a dab on each wrist.

Using my mirror, the hair was brushed and hair band put into place. After removing the cape, I put on a coffee-color Bolero jacket that completed my ensemble. I had to admit I looked too pretty to ever be mistaken for a male. I wonder what the others might think?

Before going downstairs, I put on the last item – my treasured locket. I don’t think I can put in words how much it means to me.

"Damn, you amaze me," Jan said, greeting me at the bottom of the stairs.

"How so," I queried in return.

"You’ve had, what, three days practice, and you come up looking like you do this every day."

"Why, thank you," I said, as I tried to curtsey in a long full skirt. I’m glad it was full, as I never would have made it in a pencil skirt.

Dani entered the area, halted, looked me over approvingly, and then stated, "You look astounding. You will turn heads, that’s for sure! I have a present for you."

She handed me a brown leather shoulder bag. I opened it and found it full, including photo Ids for Alice Prescott. I vaguely remembered some photos taken at Ms. Angelis’s place for employee identification badges. Also, there were lipsticks, perfume, a compact to fix shiny noses, two spare panties, hankies, Chap Stick, a comb, hairbrush, a wallet containing two twenties and a ten plus some small change and aforesaid Ids, and a pack of condoms. Condoms?!

"Nowadays, a girl shouldn’t be without them," Jan added, laughingly.

Amy was the last to arrive. She wore an absolutely gorgeous light blue belted knee-length dress with matching shoes and stockings, pearl earrings and necklace; her face perfectly made up. Jan wore a charcoal skirt-suit, pearl earrings and necklace, and black pumps with black stockings. Dani had put on a pale lemon blouse, turquoise knee-length skirt and matching shoes and stockings, with a silver necklace and dangling earrings.

After last minute instructions to the staff and a short phone call by Dani, we were out to the car, buckled in, and on our way. This time, I had Jan as a backseat partner.

"I’m a little scared, Jan," I said, "as this is my first time out."

"You look fine, Alice, probably better than half of the women who will be there. Besides, that’s good – it will keep you on your toes."

Dani chimed in with, "If you think you’ll have problems, I can cancel."

"No, please! I do need this experience, getting out among people. I’m afraid of not being right, understand?"

"Not exactly," Amy contributed.

I fell silent for awhile, trying to form in my head an appropriate response. Lacking one, I tried another approach: "You have been so nice and kind to me, and I’m afraid of doing something that would be very unladylike and embarrassing."

"So? People will just talk about the incident, and in a few days they’ll forget it even happened," Jan replied. "Oh, Alice, there’s going to be some friends – Joanne, Paula, Tina, and another girl -- to meet us at the restaurant."

"Okay," I said, figuring there will be strength in numbers. "Where is this place, anyway?"

"It’s Stanley’s Seaboard, about fifteen minutes from my house. The entrance driveway splits in two, the left goes to a parking area for the Italian and the right to a seafood place. We’ll go right. Their kitchen is in the middle, between the two restaurants and you can get a menu for one in the other. The seafood is excellent, but the Italian is so-so since they got a new chef."

One thing I got to say about Dani, she knew her way around. We went from one two-lane road to a highway and back onto another two-lane. We skirted the town, turned onto a main road, and in minutes we pulled off, onto the restaurant’s entranceway. Turning right, I was surprised by the large parking lot. As it was still fairly early, we readily found a parking spot. After Dani locked up the car, we proceeded to the main entrance, where we met up with the others.

"Alice, I’d like you to meet Nicole Rockwell," Joanne said, introducing a red headed, green-eyed beauty.

Oh great! They went and done it again. There go my Saturdays.

"Nikki, this is Alice Prescott."

We shook hands and hugged in that near-miss fashion ladies use to avoid ruining makeup.

"Are you a friend of Joanne," I inquired.

"No, we’ll be working together. I’m sort of the scheduler for Wonderland."

"I’m glad you’ll be joining us. Welcome aboard!"

"Thanks, Dani."

On the outside, the restaurant had a weathered clapboard siding painted gray with a lot of crab pot floats hanging on the walls. An old holed boat lay, overturned, on a bare patch of ground just to the left of the three steps leading up to the porch. On the porch, to the right, were several crab pots, and the entrance was flanked with red and green running lights. A very nautical setting!

We went inside and were immediately intercepted by a hostess, who inquired if we had reservations.

"Marsh, party of eight," Dani said.

The hostess checked her sheet, the said, "Yes, six thirty. Right this way."

As we walked through the faux nautical-themed dining area, I could feel dozens of male eyes observing our group, mentally undressing each one of us. (Hah, wait ’til they get to me – surprise!) Passing one table, a little girl, of about eight and dressed in a pretty pink party dress, looked at me, smiled, and gave the finger wave common to many women. I smiled and waved back and she giggled in a very adorable fashion. At another table a group of businessmen stared at us. As we passed, I could just make out their lewd remarks and the laughter that followed. Finally, we reached our table. I managed to get seated between Jan and Dani. Several waiters assisted us in sitting, as another brought a bottle of red wine to the table.

"Compliments of those gentlemen," he said, pointing to the group we passed.

"Would you please return the bottle to them with ‘thanks, but no thanks,’ " was Dani’s retort.

Menus were supplied, and I was told to order whatever I wanted. So, I looked over the many choices: seafood platter, fried shrimp, shrimp scampi, shrimp with linguine, etc. I finally settled on a seafood combination consisting of stuffed shrimp, shrimp scampi, crab cake, fried clams, monkfish, and cole slaw, with sides of French fries and applesauce. For soup, I choose New England Clam Chowder. With the napkin tucked securely in place, I tackled a very good soup.

I was curious about Nikki; "Nikki, can I ask you something?"

"Good ahead," she replied.

"What will you be doing at Wonderland?"

"I’m there to keep you on the straight and narrow," she replied with a smile. "I keep track of all the clothes you’ve modeled, photos taken and where they are at any time; schedule appearances and meetings with people you need to see; and, intercept those that need to be intercepted. Also, I deliver photos to the printing section and sometimes write caption copy. In short, I do whatever is necessary."

"Nikki, are you still living in that apartment and single?" Dani asked.

"My lease is up in two months and the last jerk left me a month ago. Why do you ask?"

"I still have a room left – you could move in with us."

"And by us you mean . . .."

"Alice, Amy, Jan and me," replied Dani.

The arrival of tray-bearing waiters cut short the exchange. Platters of goodies were placed before us. Bottles of white wine appeared and the attentive crew filled glasses.

With a full glass in hand, Dani rose to propose a toast: "Here’s to Alice! May she have a long life, full of joy and wonder. May she always be as sweet and gentle as her namesake."

"To Alice!" the ladies echoed.

 

To be continued.

Annie O

 

 

 

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© 2002 by Ann O'Nonymous. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.