My mother smiled and told me that on top of my nice new undies and my pretty blue dress, a little bit of lipstick isn’t going to make any difference. “And whilst you’re petticoated, you’ll call me Mummy, not Mum.” she added.
“Whaaat?” I gasped.
“You heard me.” Mum said, “Now what do you call me?” she asked. She asked me several times and issued several threats before I eventually uttered the word Mummy. “Good boy.” she said. “Now let’s see how this shade looks.” she smiled before showing me how to apply the lipstick. “That looks lovely.” she gushed. “Where’s your handbag?”
“I don’t know!” I muttered. Mum gave me one of those looks, before suggesting a nicer way in which I could reply to her. After several hints, I swallowed my pride and mumbled “I don’t know Mummy.”
“Maybe it’s in your wardrobe?”
Maybe it is. I sheepishly opened its doors and saw the pale blue round leather handbag hanging there. I reluctantly removed it, but noticed something else in there what shouldn’t be. “You seemed so taken by it I just had to buy it for you.” my mother said as I gorped at the navy blue sailor dress.
“What for?” I whined. “I only need one dress and that’s for Peter’s party.”
“Like I said, you were so taken buy it, I just had to buy it for you.” she reiterated before encouraging me to thank her properly.
“Thank you Mummy.” I muttered.
“I do hope you’re not going to mumble and mutter your words at Peter’s house.” she said. “It doesn’t sound very nice when you talk like that.” she added as her eyes dropped to the handbag dangling from my hand. “Now you’ll need your lipstick and the vanity.” Mum said, adding that the ‘vanity’ is the small mirror I’d just used. “A spare pair of stockings and a clean pair of knickers..” she added as her hand delved into her pocket, “…and here’s a handkerchief for you.” she said, passing me a white cotton hanky trimmed with pale blue lace. After fumbling with the handbag’s fastening, I finally got it open. I began putting the lipstick, mirror and hanky inside but Mum said I should think about what I’m likely to need.
“I don’t know what you mean.” I whined. Mum told me that I wasn’t likely to need my clean knickers so they should go in first, followed by my spare stockings. “Then you wont have to root for your lipstick and vanity because those will be on top.” she said, before informing me that I’d find my spare stockings and clean knickers in my drawer.
I pulled open my drawer and saw several pairs of lacy ‘love heart’ knickers embroidered with my name laying there. Next to these are the two remaining boxes from my variety pack of stockings. I asked which one I should take since one pair is thick and plain, and the other is thin and decorated with love hearts. “Whichever you like.” my mother advised. I grabbed the thicker plain pair, before reluctantly reaching for the knickers; almost identical to those I’m wearing only the blue lace trim and satin bow are a darker shade of blue. Beneath these is another pair, the very same style but with yellow trim. And beneath those I spy a tiny hint of pink, but I don’t dare delve any further. With my handbag locked and loaded, I hang it across my shoulder and it rests on my hip in the folds of my dress. Mum steps back and looks me up and down. “Oh you do look lovely John.” my mother gushed. “Peter’s going to be so pleased that you decided to wear a dress for his party!”