Mary wasn’t waiting for Jon when he reached the school gates so once again he walked home alone. Jon kept glancing at his feet as he walked. “At least it’s not raining today.” He said to himself as he remembered the walk home the previous evening. He was also glad of the extra covering his tights gave him, although they were itchy and uncomfortable to wear.
“You’re late.” Said his mother as he entered the kitchen.
“Sorry,” He replied, “Mrs Beadle wanted to see me after class.”
“I did wait for you.” Said Mary, who was sitting at the table doing her homework, “But I figured you had another detention so I left.”
“That’s OK sis.” He said as he placed his bag on the table and hung his blazer on a coat hook.
“What did Mrs. Beadle want?” His mother asked, looking at him from head to toe with a wry smile on her face.
Jon noticed the way his mother looked at him as he stood there in his blouse, pleated grey skirt, navy blue tights, and his sister’s shoes. “Can I change Mum?” He asked.
“Not until you’ve finished your homework.” She replied. “You know the rules.”
“Oh, Mum…” He moaned. “Can’t I at least take these tights off?” He asked. “Please… My legs are itchy.”
“Very well.” She replied.
Jon left in haste, eager to get the tights off. He sat on the edge of his bed and dragged his legs out of them, before slipping his bare feet back into the shoes he’d worn all day and returning to the kitchen.
“Better?” His Mum asked.
“Yes!” He replied. “Those tights are so uncomfortable!” He added as he smoothed his skirt under him before sitting at the table to start his homework. “How can you wear them?” He said to Mary.
“I only wear them when it’s cold,” Mary replied. “I much prefer socks in the summer.”
Again a wry smile swept his mother’s face as he sat. “Well, you can wear knee socks tomorrow if you don’t like wearing tights.” She suggested.
“Or you can shave them,” Mary added.
A look of dread swept Jon’s face. He certainly didn’t want to shave his legs, nor did he want to wear knee socks. The one thing the tights have going for them is they at least cover him up a bit.
“Anyway… You still haven’t told me what Mrs. Beadle wanted.” His mother asked.
“Oh er….” Stammered Jon, not wanting to confess to being teased. “Erm… one of the boys got sent to her office at registration for er… threatening me… er… and Mrs Beadle made him apologize.”
“Which boy?” She asked, ever defensive of her children.
“Er… Michael Jenkins.” He replied.
“That big bruiser!” She exclaimed. “From primary school?”
Jon nodded.
“How did she ever get Michael Jenkins to apologize?” Mary asked, knowing his reputation.
“She threatened to make him wear the girl’s uniform too!”
“No way!” Mary gushed.
“Really?” Mum quizzed.
“Yep!” Jon replied. “She has a cupboard full of them. I think Jenkins thought he’d be going home in one when she got one out in his size.”
“Hmm…” Pondered their Mother, “It appears that Mrs. Beadle’s new punishment is working wonders.” She said as she turned her attention back to the meal she was preparing.
Jon and Mary quietly got on with their homework. After a while, Mary ducked her head slightly so she could see Jon’s bare legs emerging from his school skirt beneath the table. “If you do wear knee socks tomorrow…” She returned to her upright position, “…you’ll have to shave your legs anyway.” She pointed out.
“Why?” Asked Jon ignorantly.
“Because you’ll look silly in a skirt with hairy legs!”
“I look silly in a skirt anyway!” He insisted.
“No you don’t!” Said both his mother and Mary simultaneously.
“Of course I do!” He pretested. “Look at me.” He said, standing up from his chair.
Both Mary and his mother looked him up and down for a moment. His feminine blouse fitted him perfectly. The lace-edged vest beneath it looked pretty. The girl’s school tie looked smart. His short pleated skirt fell to his mid-thigh and looked quite cute and his feet were clad in the single strap ballet pumps he’d borrowed off his sister.“ Apart from your hairy legs, you look fine.” Said Mary. “And no one can tell they’re hairy when you’ve got tights on.”
“But they itch!” He claimed.
“They wont if you shave though.” Mary insisted impatiently. “What do you think Mum?”
She pondered for a moment, before saying, “Well Mary is right Jon… knees socks, and hairy legs will look silly… and if you want your tights to be comfortable…” She paused, leaving the decision in Jon’s hands.
Jon was still unsure. All he wanted was to not have to consider any of this. He sat back at the table and continued with his homework.
Mary had finished her homework shortly before supper and changed into her casual clothes as soon as she was done. Their mother thought it was only fair that if Jon has to wear his uniform until his homework is complete, then so should his sister.
After supper, Jon and Mary as usual did the washing up, drying, and putting away between them.
“Do you reckon Beadle would have really made Jenkins wear a skirt?” Mary asked.
“Yep.” Replied Jon. “She had about seven of them; skirts, blouses, and blazers… all in various sizes…“ He described, “… already set out on individual hangers laying in wait for their next victim.”
“Blimey!” She replied. “I had no idea she’d do it when I said you should wear my uniform.” She paused. “Sorry.” She bit her lip.
Jon knew full well that all this stemmed from Mary’s suggestion. However, he was also aware that his antics were the root of the situation. “It’s OK sis… It’s my own stupid fault.” He paused. “I am sorry about yesterday.” He confessed.
Mary almost had a tear in her eye… almost. She looked down at his uniform and back to his face. “I know.” She replied, knowing she’d gotten the better of him this time.
Jon still had a little homework to finish after supper, and his mother refused to let him change out of his uniform until it was completed.
“Mary?” He asked. “Are you any good at geography?”
“Not bad.” She replied. “What’s the problem?” She asked as she rejoined him at the table.
With Mary’s help, Jon eventually finished his homework. “Thanks sis.” He said as he packed his books away. “At last I can get out of this skirt!”
“No problem.” She smiled. “Oh, I left something on your bed for you.” She said as he eagerly went to change into his own clothes.