I sighed and said “When I agreed to wearing something similar to you I didn’t expect this.” I looked down at myself and felt my ribbon flop forward. At least the ribbon in my hair might draw some attention away from the bra strapped around my chest, I figured as my brother sat in the chair opposite me. “Why couldn’t she dress us so we matched like she used to?” I asked as Vincent unscrewed the lid of the nail varnish.
He told me that we ‘sort of’ match with our skirts and shoes as he took hold of my hand. “I suppose there’s no point me wearing a nice blouse and doing my hair up ‘coz I’ll be wearing a gown and mortarboard for most of the afternoon.” he said as he began to paint my nails. “If not I’m sure we’d be matching.” he added. I asked him if he was also wearing a flat-bra. Vincent glanced at me and said he’d been wearing one since his 13th birthday.
I did one of those double take things. “But… that’s after Mother stopped the whole Sonia thing.” I reminded him.
“I only wear them for school.” he replied. “We all have to once we’re teenagers.”
“I didn’t know.” I gulped. “Is yours as tight as mine?” I asked. “I can hardly breathe in it.” I added.
“I dunno. They are supposed to be tight.” he replied as he glanced at my chest. He placed my hand down and told me not to move it. He advised me to drink some of my tea before he starts on the next hand as the varnish will take about 10-15 minutes to dry. I took his advice and noticed another imprint from my lipstick on the rim of my cup. I looked at my purse and my painted nails before considering the ribbon tied in my hair. They are indeed all more or less the same shade of pink. As prissy and girlie as I look and feel, I suppose I can count my blessings that I’m not completely clad in pink; a colour my brother became more than accustomed to wearing when he lived as a girl. “Do you ever miss being Sonia?” I asked him as he carefully painted my nails.
“Not really. But I’m still petticoated half the time so I may as well still be her half the time.” he replied.
“Well after today that’ll be the end of that.” I said.
“Maybe.” he replied. “I think I might stay at Malham Hall to sit my A-levels.”
“Why not come to college with me?” I asked. “It’s a lot closer and at least you won’t have to…” I said, thinking about his school uniform. “Do sixth formers still wear the uniform?” I asked. Vincent shook his head as he concentrated on painting my pinkie fingernail. “Oh well that’s OK then.”
“We have to wear skirts though, or dresses.” he said as he placed my hand flat on the table and told me not to move them. “Sort of business wear like this.” he said as he stood up and straightened his skirt. “Which I think is better… I dunno about you.”