Cheryl sat next to me and placed her hand in mine. “Pete… I don’t think you’re a freak. And I’m sorry if I referred to you as a girl… It’s just, you do look really sweet and I can’t see ‘my brother’ in you at the moment.” She bit her lip, “I mean….. I know you are my brother, but just now when you were doing your eye make up you seemed more like a little sister.”

A tear rolled down my cheek. I sniffed the next tear back. “I guess I’ve ruined my eye liner now.” I sniffled, trying to make light of my tears.

“It’s waterproof.” She smiled. “Just try not to smudge it eh?”

“Sorry.” I replied, carefully drying my tear with the back of my finger. “I’ll stop acting like a girl now.”

She tightened her grip on my hand and looked me in the eye. “No I’m sorry Pete.” She paused, “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just, I’ve never felt so close to you before today. I love you so much you know?.”

My sister had never said anything nicer to me. We never got on too well before she went to university, but today I’ve felt a close bond with her. I tightened my grip on her hand. “Now you are going to make me cry!” I replied as lent forward and gave her a hug.

Cheryl gave me squeeze. “I love you Peter.” She whispered softly.

“I love you too Cheryl.”

We hugged for a moment before Cheryl drew back, selected a lipstick and passed it to me. “Here, this one I think. It’s not too red”

“Thanks.” I said as I took it from her, removed the lid, formed an ‘O’ and applied it. “How’s that look?” I asked as I checked my reflection.

“Fab!” She said. “I can’t wait to show Mother!”

I gulped in fear.

“You’ll need to wear some black underwear with this dress.” She said as she removed a black bra from the carrier bag and a pair of matching knickers. “Do you want some tights?”

“er… I… er….” I stammered.

“Tell you what, I’ve got some hold up’s you can have, they’ll be nicer than these opaques.”

“What are hold up’s?” I asked ignorantly.

Cheryl giggled. “They’re like stockings but without the suspender belt. You get changed whilst I go get them.” She replied as she darted up to my old room.

I stripped my clothes off and stepped in to my new black knickers before fiddling with my new bra. Once I’d made sure my bra was straight I stepped into the dress and pulled the straps on to my shoulders. I made sure it was straight before sitting back at my dresser.

I was lost in my reflection. For some bizarre reason seeing myself with pierced ears and make up made this whole ‘petticoat punishment’ thing seem different, more acceptable somehow. Part of me didn’t feel as silly as I felt when I looked more like a boy.

Before long Cheryl returned with the ‘hold up’s’ in her hand. “Now try not to ladder them.” She said as she passed them to me.

“I’ll try.” I said before sitting on the edge of my bed and carefully pulling each stocking up each leg. Cheryl passed me my shoes which I dutifully fastened myself in to. I stood up and turned towards the full length mirror.

“How do I look?”

“You look fab Pete…” She grinned. “How do the hold up’s feel?”

“Er….” I felt them as the clung tightly to my legs. “OK I guess. A bit strange.”

“You’ll get used to them.” She said with a grin.

I grinned back before admiring my reflection for a moment longer.

“Come on!” said Cheryl, “Let’s show Mother.”

She grabbed my hand and led me downstairs without hesitation. All of a sudden we were in the lounge. “Well Mother…” Cheryl exclaimed, “What do you think?”

Mother looked up at me and her jaw dropped. A few seconds later she composed herself. “My word!” She said. “I can hardly recognise you!” Her gazed looked me up and down several times. “Very feminine.” She added.