When I woke up that Saturday morning I felt sick to my stomach knowing what was in store for me. I couldn’t decide if it was worse to get dressed into one of the casual outfits mom bought yesterday or to stay in my stupid nightie. I decided the nightie was worse so I put on a pair of pink shorts and a pretty short sleeve top with lace at the neck and sleeves. Mom and Mike were already downstairs by the time I got down. I heard Mike tell her that they had another game today. Mom said he could play but he had to be home by five to get ready for dinner.
That afternoon, Mike got his glove and left for the field on his bike. About an hour later Mom grabbed me and led me into the bathroom to wash my hair. “Its time we get started on you, honey.”
When I complained that it was so early, mom just smiled and said “Now honey, you know it takes us girls a lot longer to get dressed and I know you want to look extra pretty for your birthday.” Pretty! I don’t think so. Being pretty was certainly not on my list of birthday wishes. But as soon as I finished showering and washing my hair, mom took me into her bedroom and sat me down at the vanity where she proceeded to set my hair in rollers. “I wanted to do this early so the curl has a chance to set. I think you’ll look cute with curly hair.” First she was calling me pretty and now cute. Things were going quickly from bad to worse. I felt so stupid sitting there with goofy pink curlers in my hair. I wanted to die as I sat there staring at my reflection in the mirror. As soon as she finished the last curler, she took out a bottle of bright pink nail polish and proceeded to polish my fingernails and toenails. “You know something. I think pink is your color. We’ll do another coat after I finish my shower and get dressed. By then your hair should be dry enough to take out your curlers and see how you look with some curly hair.
Mom rejoined me in my room wearing her robe 30 minutes later. She watched as I applied the second coat of polish to my own nails. After I was done with this task, mom sat me down on the bed and removed one curler to see if my hair was dry yet. “It’s still a little damp. I think we need to wait another half hour or so. So, lets get your started on dressing. You can at least put on your lingerie and pantyhose now.”
I stepped into my panties and then removed my robe to put on my bra. As mom helped me hook it into place I asked her what she told dad about me. “I talked to him last night and told him you decided you want to spend the summer as a girl. I explained that this started out as a punishment for your thievery but after dressing this way for a few days you discovered that you enjoy showing your feminine side. He wasn’t very happy but considering his situation he really can’t say or do anything.”
After I put on my slip, I sat on the bed to slip on my sheer white pantyhose; I asked mom how she could that. “Mom, how could you tell dad that lie? You know I hate dressing like a girl. I’m a boy, mom!”
“Well, that doesn’t matter, does it? You’re being punished for the summer and that’s final. Your father isn’t too happy about this little turn of events but he agreed not to put up a fuss. And he certainly would never consider having you live with him. You’d cramp his life style and he couldn’t afford to keep you anyway especially when I told him you have been behaving much better since you became my little girl. Sit down over here so we can get your make up on. By then your hair should be dry. Now, getting back to your father. Since I told him you like all this stuff, you’ll have to be on your best behavior tonight. I expect you to be the perfect fourteen-year-old daughter. That means not a word of complaint from you all evening. And you better remember all your lessons and manners. I expect you to sit very ladylike, to eat slowly and daintily and to speak softly. One slip up and I’ll be parading you to the ball field every night next week in a different dress. And you know I’m not kidding.”