I listened to some music whilst I tried to decide what to wear. None of the choices were any more desirable than my school uniform. Mother tapped on the door before entering. “Not found anything yet dear?” She asked. I shook my head. Mother began looking through the wardrobe. “How about this?” She said, holding up a blue dress, a very girlie blue dress. “It’s very pretty.” She added.
“I don’t like it.” I replied.
Mother hung the dress on the wardrobe door and removed a skirt. “Well this one then.” She said, holding it against me.
It was a black knee length skirt with pink polka dots all over it. “At least it’s not flowery.” I moaned as I took it from her.
“There’s a matching top somewhere too.” She added, rummaging through the other chest of drawers. “There you go.” She smiled, passing me a pink short sleeved t-shirt with black polka dots on it. I removed my school dress, stepped into the skirt and fastened the zip at the back, before pulling the pink polka dot t-shirt over my head and straightening it up. It was definitely more comfortable to wear than my rigid uniform. I slipped my feet back into my ballet pumps and looked at Mother for approval. “Very pretty.” She said. “Doesn’t that feel better?”
I nodded before checking my reflection in the mirror. Pink spotty top, black spotty knee length skirt and ballet pumps. All topped off with my definitely boyish haircut. “I look sooo stupid.” I thought as I looked at myself in the mirror.
“Once your hair has grown out a bit you’ll look quite sweet, possibly.” Said Mother to my reflection. My heart sank at this suggestion.
“But Mu-um.” I moaned, “I don’t want to look like a girl.”
“Less of your moaning young Man.” She insisted. “Do you want to wear your uniform for the rest of the weekend?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Good.” She said sternly. “Now come on, you can help me prepare supper.”
After supper, Mother let me watch TV until 8.30, when she told me to get my night clothes on.
When I returned to the lounge wearing my nightie, dressing gown & slippers, Mother said “I want you to wear the blue dress hung on the door tomorrow.”
“Can’t I choose something?” I asked, almost pleaded. The dress Mother had in mind was horrid.
“No.” She said. “Cheryl hardly got any wear out of it and I’d like to see it get some use. It is ever so pretty.” She added.
“Too pretty.” I thought.
Half an hour later, Mother told me it was bed time and reminded me what to wear tomorrow. I said “goodnight.” before leaving her alone and heading for my room.
“I’m going to look so stupid in that.” I thought as I lay on my bed.
The next day, I woke up to my alarm clock and got out of bed. The 1st thing I saw was the dress Mother had insisted I wore for the day. I removed my nightie, selected some underwear and removed the dress from the hanger. I heard a tap on the door. “Hello.” I said as Mother entered.
“Oh good you’re up.” She said. “Can you wear your school dress for now as I have some chores for you. And we don’t want you getting your pretty dress dirty do we?”
“Oh, err…” I replied, “No.”
“I’ve put a list of chores for you on the notice board in the kitchen. They’re to be done every Saturday. Sunday’s can be considered a day off, depending on your behaviour throughout the week.”
I nodded as I buttoned myself into my school dress, relieved that I didn’t have to wear the blue thing Mother liked. At least for a few hours anyway.
Once ready, I headed for the kitchen to find Mother making me some tea and toast. I perused the list of chores on the notice board. Hand wash my clothes. Vacuum the hall, landing & stairs. Polish the bannister. Vacuum and dust the study and lounge. Scrub the kitchen floor and wash & put away any pots, pans & crockery. And finally, vacuum and dust my bedroom “This lot will take me hours!” I thought as Mother prepared my breakfast.
“Make sure you do your washing first, that way it will be dry and ready to put away by the time you’re cleaning your own room.” Mother stated. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” I replied.
“And make sure you do your own room last.”
