Valerie was disappointed that they wouldn’t be travelling home in their matching dresses, but already feeling like she was on thin ice, Valerie didn’t question her aunt. Ten minutes passed and David returned, however Valerie was perplexed as he was still wearing his green gingham dress. “Let me see.” Aunt Martha said to the boy. Glumly, David lifted his dress but this time, he didn’t reveal a pair of knickers but a nappy, hidden behind a pair of frilly white over-knickers and these too had his name embroidered on in an elegant italic font. “Good boy.” she said.

“Where’s your dolly?” Valerie asked him.

“Nanny’s got her, Mummy.”

“Which one did you choose?” his aunt asked.

“Florence, Auntie.” he shyly replied.

“Lovely.” his aunt said. “The cab shouldn’t be long.” she said, and she was right. No more than five minutes passed before the sound of a car horn could be heard. David and Valerie said their goodbye’s to Aunt Martha whilst Isabel took a case over to the awaiting cab. “Well you’d best be off… and remember everything I told you Valerie.” Martha said.

“Yes Auntie.” Valerie replied. “Come on David.” she said, holding out her hand. A huge grin swept her face as she walked him to the taxi cab. A perplexed driver watched them approach. David glumly looked up at his mother. She seems so happy and he knows that his days playing with dolls and wearing dresses are far from over.