You know, it Wasn't that Bad           by: Marnie Smith

 

My name is Chris and my adventure started one night when my wife and I were getting ready to go to a barbecue. Sally was almost dressed when I commented on her outfit. I suggested that the tee shirt she put on was too old and that she should change it. A few minutes later, I looked at her and she was changing her bra. I asked what she was doing and she said that she was going to wear her black sleeveless polo shirt and that she had to wear a different bra. I laughed and asked what difference it made and she said that the bra she had on would show. I laughed again and suggested I'd prefer it and that if a girl had looks as my wife had, it was so easy to be a woman. Sally angrily replied, "you think it's just simple and fun being a woman when, in fact, it's hard work."

I laughed and said, "such as your bra dilema?"

Sally frowned and said, "perhaps someday you'll see."

"I hope so," I said. I didn't give the incident another thought, but about two weeks later I had just returned from a business trip. Our daughter wasn't home, she was at my in laws for the night. Sally greeted me warmly with a glass of white wine. We started to talk about the previous two days and I thought this was just a prelude to an amorous evening.

"Oh Chris, read this flyer from school. It's about the upcoming fundraiser. It says that they need some brave dads."

"That's me," I laughed.

"I thought so," chuckled Sally, "I already told Mrs. Beakman that you'd help." Our daughter went to a private school and each years there was a major fundraiser and quite often the parents were involved. Mrs. Beakman was the school's founder and headmistress. She was a dynamic, competent, and remarkable woman whose strong will had created this institution from nothing and built it into one of St. Paul's finest private schools. I was always intimidated and a little afraid of her.

The flyer read:

The St. Paul City School needs eight to ten BRAVE DADS. For this year's fundraiser, we will have a formal dinner at the Four Season's Hotel. Our entertainment will be a beauty contest, or a "Womanless Beauty Pageant." Our "Brave Dads" will be the contestants and they will do their best to model swim suits, evening gowns, and have a chance to show off whatever personal talents they might have. The pageant will be the highlight of the evening. Dads, drop you inhibitions and help St. Paul City School. You'll have fun and we'll have a great evening. Please call Mrs. Beakman's office to volunteer.

I simply laughed out loud and I set the flyer down. "Lot's of luck," I said.

"Yes, you'll need luck darling," Sally said.

"What?"

"I already RSVP'd for you. I told Mrs. Beakman...."

"Mrs Beakman?!?!"

"Yes, Mrs. Beakman, that you'd love to be in the pageant. In fact, you were the first dad to volunteer and the headmistress thinks you're a "doll" for helping out. Besides, this should be a easy. Remember you said that it's easy to be a woman. This is your chance to find out."

So this was Sally's revenge for when I teased her over her bra. "But Sally, I don't want to do this."

"Why not? You're a big tough guy, I'd think you could handle being dressed up like a girl. But that's OK, I don't want to push you into doing something you don't want to do. You call Beakman and tell her you're backing out."

"Won't you call?"

"Never." Sally had me because she knew that I didn't have the backbone to cancel out on Mrs. Beakman and that I would submit to a beauty contest before I'd make that call.

"But Sally, how do I do this?"

Sally smiled and she took my hand, "let's go into the bedroom. I have a plan." We went upstairs and on our bed was a bathing suit of Sally's, two evening gowns, and a couple of gorgeous outfits of hers. I gulped and Sally handed me her electric razor and said, "now get that hair off of your legs." I obediently went into the bathroom and slowly shaved them. As I finished, I thought, better get under my arms too. When I returned to the bedroom, a smiling Sally was holding a bathing suit of hers. It was a white one piece with a white sarong skirt. "Let's see how this looks dear." She held it so that I could step into it and she pulled it up around my torso; I could feel the blush on my face. Sally giggled and said, "don't worry hon, I have lots of makeup for that pretty face. Next she wrapped the sarong skirt around my waist. "You look nice. Take a peak." I looked in the mirror and I thought that I looked pretty silly and I said so. "Don't worry, we have two weeks to get you pulled together and ready you'll be." The she noticed my chest hairs sticking over the top of her swimsuit and she added, "that chest hair must come off too. Now, let's try on some dresses."

"OK," I said, with a long sigh.

Sally handed me a pair of pink satin panties. "Luckily, I am a tall girl, you're a slender boy, and you probably can fit into some of my dresses." I grimmaced at her after I slid on the panties and my fingers began to stroke one of her evening gowns when she said, "not so fast."

"What?"

"Pantyhose, young man. Put on this pair of pantyhose."

"Oh come on Sally."

"Chris, don't think for one second that you're not going to be properly dressed in this pageant and that means pantyhose."

"But I don't care if I'm "properly" dressed."

"Well Mrs. Beakman does, and I do too. You're going to do everything I would do when I wear these outfits." My wife handed me a pair of sheer black pantyhose. I sat at her vanity. I had seen Sally put on Pantyhose a thousand times and I began to try to do what she did. I carefully worked my hand into each leg and I put them slowly on, pulling them gently until they reached my thighs. Then I stood up and pulled them up snugly around my waist. "Like a pro," exclaimed Sally, "this girl stuff comes naturally to you." She put a bra on me and stuffed them with extra pairs of pantyhose. "We'll figure out something better for the pageant." She sat me at the vanity and my wife began to put makeup on my face. It seemed to take forever, but when she was done, she put a brunette wig on my head. In the mirror, I was surprised at my features which appeared much more feminine and delicate than I had ever imagined. Sally handed me a long black slip which I stepped into. The silken fabric glided over my legs and the sensual sensation took me by surprise. It was light and lovely and I moved toward the bed so conscious of the garment. Sally picked up the first gown. It was black silk taffeta. I had always thought that Sally looked beautiful in it and I couldn't believe that I was about to put it on.

She held it open and I stepped into it. The slip seemed to get in the way and I gathered it up and I dropped it into the skirt . I put my arms into the sleeves and Sally stepped behind me and zipped it up. It actually seemed to fit. The gown's bodice was black silk with some sequins. The sleeves were short and puffed. The taffeta dropped loosely to the floor. I looked in the mirror and I was shocked by the fact that I looked, well, not bad. In fact, I looked pretty good. In fact, it suddenly dawned on me that I could actually win this silly pageant. Sally was smiling and she handed me black high heeled shoes. I sat down to put them on. Sally helped me stand and after a few awkward moments to secure my balance, I walked about the room. My gown felt airy as the taffeta swished about. When I turns a corner, my skirt swung out in a way that pants simply can't. Sally followed with earrings and a necklace. I really looked good. I sat down at the vanity and I slowly crossed my legs. They made a soft sound as these wonderfully delicate dark fabrics rubbed against each other. The was a pleasant new experience for me.

"We can't stop now Chris. We have lots more to do. Stand up," Said Sally. I did and she unzipped my gown.

"What are you doing, I asked, realizing that I was about to protest taking off a dress? It felt so nice that I wanted to spend some more time in it.

"You have to try on more outfits young man."

"But I tried on you bathing suit and this dress. What else do I need? I mean this dress looks OK doesn't it?"

"Just like a man. We need to see what looks BEST on you, not just what looks OK on you. You also need another outfit for the talent portion of the contest. I figured you'd play your guitar.

I agreed that my guitar was a natural for the talent portion. I have played for many years and I knew a couple of classical pieces that would be appropriate. I took off the black gown and slip and my wife handed me pink pantyhose. I put them on along with a camisole. Sally gave me a long pink skirt which was narrow with a small vent in the back. A beaded pink wool top was next and I tried to walk about the room and I felt uncomfortable in such an awkwardly tight skirt. Sally surprised me by stepping out of the bathroom dressed in the black taffeta evening gown that I had just taken off.

"What are you doing," I asked?

"I just had an urge to wear the very dress my husband just wore."

"But you're so much prettier in it than I."

"Thank you, but darling, you look good in it too. I think you'll wear it for the pageant. That pink number is a little much."

I agreed. Next Sally had me climb back into black pantyhose and I tried on a pretty navy suit. It had an A-line skirt with a double breasted jacket and a white silk blouse underneath. Sally thought that it looked too stiff. Again, she had me change into another pair of nude pantyhose and I tried on another dress which wasn't right. Moments later, I again put on my black pantyhose and Sally put me into a black silk backless dress. It looked pretty good and it was even lighter and more fun to wear than her evening gown. I walked back and forth, it swung more effortlessly that the other outfits. I almost felt naked in it. "Sally, will this outfit work?"

"I think so, but we'll have to do something about bras. Remember, each bra works differently with different outfits."

"From now on I'll remember. Can I go back to being a guy now?"

"No way," she said, "I have to instruct you on how to walk, how to talk, how to sit. Gestures, posture. I can't have you stomping about the stage like a high school football player doing a drag routine for the homecoming rally." So for the next two hours, I practiced moving about like a girl. Sally made it fun because she playfully teased me the entire time. I think the fardest part was playing my guitar while in my dress. I had to make a real effort to keep my legs together which distracted me from my playing and my stuffed bra felt strange against my guitar. Finally, it was time to quit, but to my surprise, Sally had pulled out a short pink nighty and told me that I could slleep in it if I wanted to. I declined, but she held it up to my shoulders and said that I'd be irresistible in it and that she'd make it worth my while. I slipped it over my shoulders and she did make it worth it.

The next morning as I climber out of the pink nightly, I told Sally that I had reservations about the contest. While I had had fun doing the dress up with her, but still I didn't want to embarrass myself, her, or our daughter, Emily. "Oh down't worry about Emily, she already knows all about the pageant and is very excited about it. You won't embarrass me and why should you be ashamed? It will earn you points in Beakman's eyes."

"But my friends...."

"We don't have that many friends at the school."

"What about the Smiths," I asked? "John was a childhood friend of mine.

Sally laughed, "I don't think you have to worry about John. I am certain he'll understand."

"But Sally, I don't think I can."

"Fine Chris. Back out, but you call Beakman." Sally had me. She knew it and she revelled in it. "Tonight we are going to do a little shopping for the contest. Emily will stay with the Smiths, but she wants to see you all dolled up before she's dropped off."

"I don't understand?"

Sally rolled her eyes. "You're going out shopping as a girl. You need to practice and this is the best way." I started to wonder what I had gotten myself into. The day passed slowly, but at three o'clock, Sally said that it was time to get dressd. As instructed, I removed the hair on my chest. Sally put out pink panties, a matching bra, white pantyhose, a lightly pink blouse and a pink suit. Emily delighted in watching her mom make up my face. She giggled as I stepped into Sally's pink pumps and asked her how dad looked.

It took me a few minutes to work up the courage to step out of our house. We got into our car and I drove to the Smith's house. I told Sally that I would not get out of the car and if they brought the Smiths out to see me that I'd drive away. They left me and after what seemed like a lot of time, the front door opened. A woman emerged. She had on a charcoal grey wool jumper with a white blouse and grey tights. She looked awkward in her outfit as she came down the steps. I realised that I knew her or him because that attractive female was my friend John. I turned off the car's engine and opened the door. I swung my legs out and slowly stood up, still not accustomed to the heels. "Oh John, you're in the contest too?" We both blushed.

"Yes Chris, I think our wives conspired together. In fact they presented this "Womanless Pageant thing" to Beakman."

"It's really my fault John because I teased my wife and this is her revenge. I sorry you've been dragged into it. I have learned my lesson. You do look great though."

"So do you. Turn around." I did and he made a low whistle. Sally appeared with John's wife Sarah. She had on a black skirt and white top. She was as beautiful as Sally.

"Very cute......Christine. Are you "girls" ready to shop?"

"John, I think our wives have lost their minds."

Sarah quickly retorted, "let's stop this car and ask any stranger who in this car they think has lost whose heads?"

Sally directed me to north Linclon Ave. She had me pull over in front of a boutique named Patty's. In the window stood mannequins dressed in sexy lingerie. The head on one was distintly male. There were stockings and bras on display. "What is this place," I asked.?

Sarah spoke up, "I saw it on the news one night. The store specializes in women's clothing for men. Guys come here to be outfitted and even made up as women. Come on, let's see what they have."

We started to get out of the car. This was a busy intersection and John and I were suddenly skittish about being out doors in public dressed the way we were. We both tried to hide behind the girls who seemed ever so amused. Sally opened the door and we entered. The boutique was not very bright inside. The racks were filled with various kinds of lingerie, dresses, and skirts. Types of padding that were sewn into panties, girdles or bloomers, things that I had never known existed. There was a rack of magazines and books that appeared to be about transvestites and in the back was jewelry and purses, makeup and shoes. A large woman with jet black hair dressed completely in black came from behind a counter. "Hello girls," she said. "I am Patty." She winked at Sarah and Sally and said, "I don't often get such large groups of women in the store. Are you all shopping for your husbands?"

"He and I are the husbands," John gruffly said.

"No," said Patty, "you delicate girls can't actually be men, can you?" I didn't care for her taunting tone and Sally could sense it.

She stepped in and said, "Patty, our boys are in a beauty pageant and we need boobs."

Patty laughed and led us to a display case. Inside sat a number of different types of breast forms. I felt funny and looked at Sally and said, "I don't know about this."

Patty butted in, "dear, why don't we simply look." She still was a salesman and didn't want us to walk out. She pulled out simple froms that filled bras. Then she showed us froms that were weighted and filled with silicone. Sally suggested that I take off my coat and blouse and try them on. As I stripped down, I kept nervously glancing at the door to see if was coming in. Sally chose the fancy breast forms which amazingly changed the entire contour of my body. I put my blouse back on. John picked out a similar pair. Sally made me try on wigs, but none seemed any better than the one we had. Patty wanted to show us other girl items. At that moment, the door opened and a man walked in. He was in a dress too. My first instinct was to hide, but I realised I didn't know him and he had nothing on us that we didn't have on him. I figured he was a regular customer. I told Patty that all we needed were the breast forms. She totaled our purchases and we paid. Patty threw in two little booklets of crossdressing fiction and said that they were on the house. I looked at her other customer and felt a twinge of pride at how much better John and I looked as girls. "Come back after you win your beauty contest," said Patty. No way I thought.

When we walked outside, Sarah and Sally burst out laughing. "John, I thought you'd die when other guy came in."

"That was a weird place," he said, "can we go home now?"

The girls nodded and insisted that we order pizzas. I agreed on the condition that John remain in his jumper to keep me company. We actually had lots of fun and our daughters loved it that their dads were dressed up as girls.

Over the next two weeks, Sally kept me ever conscious of the contest. Every other night after Emily went to bed she insisted that I dress up so that I would be completely used to the feeling of women's clothing. One outfit I particularly enjoyed wearing was Sally's pleated plaid skirt, with a slip and blouse. It felt so simple and comfortable with dark tights.

Finally the night of the pageant arrived. Sally and I came to the hotel early. Two rooms had been reserved for the contestants to use to get ready. We would make actual clothing changes backstage. I was sitting in front of a mirror in a bra, hose, heels, and half of my makeup when Mrs. Beakman burst in. I turned crimson. She patted my shoulder and said that she knew that I'd be loevely and that she was so grateful to have some dads who had enough gumption to participate in the pageant. The other fathers were arriving and they began to get ready. Beakman had actually hired a cosmedic technician to assist all of us, or those who needed it. Most of the guys needed it. I didn't think I did, but this woman actually helped me look better than I had on my previous dress ups. Soon, I was completely ready in my wonderful black evening gown. I surveyed my competition. At least three others, including my friend John looked pretty good. John had on a vintage style gown of dark navy silk. It had large padded shoulders and the fabric plunged to the floor from just under his bustline and it swept out as he moved. I felt a twinge of jealosy when I saw it. Another guy had on his older daughter's prom dress and looked quite good. Most of the others looked pretty silly in drag, but we all seemed to be in good spirits.

The show started with all of us lined up behind the curtain. It was drawn open and we were met with thunderous laughter as our fellow parents struggle to recognize each "beauty" on stage. We were called, one by one, to walk up and to introduce ourselves to our admirers. Very quickly the curtain was drawn and we rushed backstage to change for the talent portion. Sally helped me into her black silk dress and I took my guitar and waited to enter the stage. I tried to walk to my stool as gracefully as I could, but I tripped on my heels. Everyone laughed, but I managed to catch my balance. I sat as demurely as I could, crossed my legs, pressed my boobs against my instrument, and played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." I played well and it occurred to me that my stumble may have garnered sympathy from the judges.

As each contestant finished his act, we gathered backstage to put on our swim suits. I changed into nude pantyhose, climped into Sally's white one piece and she wrapped the sarong skirt around me. White high heels completed my look. Most of the guys wore one piece suits. One had on a bikini. He looked bad, but I admired his courage to strut across that stage in his get up. Afterward, we all quickly went backstage and struggled back into our evening gowns. By now, I was getting quite tired and I eagerly awaited the contest's end. We all walked across the stage one last time and lined up. Mrs. Beakman came on stage and thanked all of us for our courage and our sportsmanship. She said that there would be a 1st runner up and a queen. I heard her call my name. Darn it!! I was first runner up. I walked over to Mrs. Beakman and she handed me flowers and she gave me a kiss. Next, she called John's name. He blushed and walked toward her in his beautiful vintage gown. She kissed him and three of the school's young beautiful female teachers, who each were beautifully dressed in fabulous dresses, put a sash on him, a tiarra, and a septure. Gosh, I was jealous. I pondered the irony that I was such a competitive jerk that I was sorry that I lost a beauty contest to my friend. Was I simply competitive or did I enjoy it all more than I cared to admit? Well next time. Or would there ever be a next time?

We went backstage where Sally gave me a big kiss. I hugged her back and we realised that in all the excitement of the day, we had forgotten to bring my tuxedo to change into. "Sally, I can't wear the jeans I came in.."

"Chris, you've been such a good girl, I mean sport, let's run home and get you into your tux.

I smiled, "would it be too embarrassing if I stayed in this outfit tonight?" Sally smiled and kissed me again.

I saw my friend John stepping out of his gown. "Congratulations pal." We shook hands. "You were great. Guess what, I forgot my change of clothes. I'm going to remain "Christine" for the rest of the evening.

John turned and looked at Sarah with a sheepish look and she said, "you go girl," and laughed. She picked up his gown and he started to put in back on.

"Let's make a night of it buddy." Some of our fellow contestants decided to stay in their dresses and we had a ball. The other school moms couldn't get enough of us "brave dads."

Some time has passed since my stint as a beauty contestant. I have not revisted Patty's store. I don't think John has either. Mrs. Beakman sent me a letter which thanked me for my participation in the contest. She sent a portarait of me, on stage, in my evening gown. It's a nice photograph and it's in our bedroom. Some friends have teased me for being a beauty contestant. I tell them to try it sometime if they think it's so easy. Recently, Sally was having trouble with an outfit because she didn't have the right bra to wear. I kept my mouth shut, but if she ever asked me to be in another beauty contest I'd tell her I'd have to think about it. For about two seconds before I'd say YES!

 

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