When they got to the church some parking spaces were reserved for them near the front. But there were a great many other cars parked as close as they could get. It was definitely the biggest and most socially important wedding that had taken place in town in years.
Mrs. Graham was already there and she began to organize them into position on the sidewalk. Instead of the bride and her uncle going first, Maryanne would walk a little ahead of them, sprinkling rose petals on the aisle from a little shallow basket. Before they had left, she had put on a pretty little pair of white lace gloves.
Finally they started up towards the entrance to the church. They could hear organ music being played, which they knew would change into the wedding march as soon as they entered.
The bride and her uncle arrived and soon Mrs. Graham had them all arranged in order on the walk and steps leading to the entrance. Maryanne was first, and she lifted the front of her pretty gown a little so she wouldn’t trip on it as she climbed the steps. Mrs. Graham stepped inside the church and signaled the organist to begin the march. As soon as they heard the music, the wedding party began to enter the church, all of them moving slowly forward in the ‘hesitation step’. Two little boys walked a little distance behind the bride, holding up the end of the gown’s train.
Hearing the wedding march begin, everyone in the church rose and turned slightly to watch the procession come down the aisle. Maryanne began to drop a few rose petals from her basket every time she took a step. Women standing in the pews smiled broadly at her and leaned towards others to whisper how cute she was. Maryanne smiled nice and felt wonderful as she moved down the aisle, the long petticoat under her pretty gown whispering.
When she was a little ahead of the front pew, she moved a little to the side of it and remained standing. As the bride came along side of her, she paused and Maryanne curtseyed, and then took her floral bouquet. Then Maryanne waited till the bride and the rest of the wedding party had passed by her or took seats in the pews. Then she sat down holding the bride’s bouquet.
A section of the railing was opened and the minister stood there waiting for them with a pleasant smile. The maid-of-honor stayed behind the bride and raised helped her raise her veil up off her face, and then remained standing a little behind and to the side of her. The rest of the bridesmaids took seats in the front pews.
The marriage ceremony didn’t last as long as Maryanne had thought it would, and after a half hour or so, she soon found herself handing the bouquet back to the bride and going back down the aisle. Suddenly a camera flashed along side the aisle close to her. She looked over and there was Mommy! She had lowered the camera and Maryanne could see she had a loving smile on her face. She blew a kiss towards Maryanne!
Outside on the sidewalk, they all milled around a little, waiting for the bride to throw her bouquet! Before getting into the limousine, the bride paused and threw her bouquet backwards up behind her towards the crowd of bridesmaids in back of her. Maryanne didn’t bother to try and catch it. She had turned around to see if Mommy had come out of the church yet.
Then she saw her coming down the church steps. She had a big smile and looked so pretty. She was wearing a nice dark blue dress with pastel blue petticoats. She came down to where Maryanne was standing and gave her a big hug.
“Oh, sweetheart!” she exclaimed. She lowered her voice a bit and said, “You look so wonderful! Exactly like the pretty little girl I’ve always wanted.”
Maryanne hugged her and then looked up at her and said, “Isn’t it nice, Mommy! Everyone looks so pretty today. I’m glad you could see how pretty Auntie has made me.”
Just then Corinne came up to them, smiling broadly. She leaned down and kissed Maryanne’s cheek. “You did everything perfectly, honey! Auntie is so proud of you.” Then she turned to her sister and said, “Well! What do think of your little girl? Isn’t she pretty and wasn’t she just darling today?”
“Corinne,” said Marie, “you’ve turned her into such a wonderful little girl. It almost seems too much to believe. I couldn’t be happier!” Mommy gave her ‘daughter’ another hug and kissed her cheek. They had stepped off to the side of the crowd a little and lowered their voices a bit so they could talk privately.
“Marie,” said Corinne, “after the reception is over and we get back to my house, we have to have a serious talk. I hope you don’t mind. But it is important.”
“Of course,” replied Marie. “In fact there’s so much I want to discuss with you. By the way, the business in New York was a lot more profitable than I thought it would be. Wait till I tell you about it!”
Marie had taken a cab from the train station, so the three of them got into Corinne’s Continental and drove to the Pendergast’s estate for the reception, Maryanne sitting between them.
The reception was held in one end the ballroom in the mansion. Maryanne had never seen the ballroom before, and it was so big she was astonished. After everyone had taken their seats at one of the three long tables, the band came in and began to set up at the far end of the ballroom. Everyone smiled at Maryanne and told her how pretty she looked.
Usually only members of the wedding party sat at the pricipal table, but there was room at the end for Maryanne, Mommy and Auntie. They sat on either side of her, and Mommy couldn’t take her eyes off her. She was the now pretty girl Marie had always wanted! Neither Corinne nor Marie paid much attention to the appetizers and sumptuous meal set before them. They were talking about Marie’s trip to New York.
Later, after the meal was cleared away and the band began to play, the bride and her husband danced first, and then her uncle danced with her. Eventually most of the guests began to join in. But Marie, Maryanne and Corinne remained seated and began talking while Maryanne danced with one of the younger ushers. She was glad Auntie had taught her how to waltz.
Meanwhile Marie and Corinne kept talking. They had left the table and were sitting by themselves in a couple of chairs near the corner.
“Corinne,” began Marie, “I simply can’t believe how pretty a little girl you’ve made her. Oh! If only I had realized how pretty she could be all dressed up as a girl. And she really seems happy! Did you have a hard time getting her to be a girl?”
“Not at all,” replied Corinne. “After a few days had gone by she began to accept it, and eventually I could see that she was starting to enjoy it. Isn’t she a lovely little girl now?”
“Oh, yes! She’s absolutely perfect!” answered Marie. “And I want to keep her that way. It’s the answer to my prayers.”
“Well,” began Corinne, “I think she’d be crushed if you told her she had to be a boy again. She knows now how much fun it is being a girl, and she tries her best to behave as much like a girl as she can. I did my best to give her proper little lessons on being a nice girl.
“Marie, I can’t wait till we get back home. There’s something I have to tell you right now,” said Corinne with a serious look on her face.
“What is it?” Marie asked her sister.
“Marie,” she began, “I can’t give her up now. I’ve come to love her so very much. Please, Marie… Sell your house and move into mine so we can all be together. I have plenty of room, and you can bring some of your furniture with you as well. The rest of it we can store in my attic, or you can sell it to a dealer. Please, Marie. Tell me we can both have her together. It would break my heart to lose her now.” She looked down with tears beginning to course down her cheeks.
“Oh, Corinne!” said Marie. She placed her arm around Corinne’s shoulders “Please… Don’t get upset dear. I wouldn’t dream of separating you from her now. In fact I was thinking of proposing the same idea myself. But I wasn’t sure what you’d think of it.”
“Oh, thank God!” said Corinne. “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost her now.” She sat up and kissed her sister’s cheek as the two of them hugged each other. She dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.
“By the way,” asked Marie, “what did she think of your big house?”
Corinne made a little laugh as she recovered herself. “She said it looked like the houses they have in haunted house pictures. But she likes it now. I took her antique shopping with me and she bought me a darling little paperweight for me.”
“Was she always dressed as a girl wherever you went?” asked Marie.
“Yes,” replied her sister. “Once I got her in dresses I kept her that way. She really does make such a sweet little girl. As I said before, I couldn’t wait to show her off to my friends. And she acted like a perfect little lady. Only a couple of them know that she used to be a boy.”
“Really? Who are they?” asked Marie.
“Well, Jane Beverly, the woman that owns the women and girls store in town,” she answered, “and Mrs. Cabot, also. Jane was a little shocked when I told her, but she came around to the idea and helped me to pick out some really pretty dresses and things for her. Mrs. Cabot thought she was so cute and well behaved that she thought I was right to dress her as a girl; especially since she seemed to enjoy being a girl so much.”
“Well I’ll be!” said Marie. “Mrs. Cabot, and the Pedergasts! You’ve really been introducing her to high society!”
“Marie,” said Corinne, “I was so happy with how she looked and acted that I couldn’t wait to show her off. And when we went to the bridge party at Mrs. Pendergast’s estate, she talked and played with the other little girls that were there. You know how they all like to show off their little girls. Well, I do, too. She looks like such a pretty little doll of a girl.”
“Corinne, when I saw the pictures of her you sent me, and then actually saw her as the flower girl at the wedding, I was overjoyed with how you made her into such a pretty little girl. And I’m so happy she wants to stay that way. As long as her happiness and ours coincide I don’t think we should change a thing.”
“Marie, when I saw her growing up as a boy, I always thought she would make such a pretty girl,” said Corinne. “And now she really is a girl for all intents and purposes. But I’m worried about what will happen when she starts going through puberty. I mentioned it to her and it upset her. So I told her about a doctor that I know that might be able to help her stay a girl and she felt better. But that decision is up to you. After all, she is your child even though I love her as if she was my own.”
“That’s a big step,” said Marie, “but it might be the thing to do if her happiness is at stake.”
“That’s what I thought, too,” said Corinne. “But we don’t have to decide on that for a while. In the meantime I just love her to pieces! I’m always hugging and kissing her. And she’s an affectionate little girl, too. She’s really everything a little girl should be. You should see how she plays with her dolls and smiles at new dresses and the pretty panties and bouffant slips I buy for her. She likes to pick out her own lingerie sometimes, and she always picks the prettiest things. And she’s been such a good little girl for me. She learned so quick how to talk and walk like a nice girl.”
“Corinne,” said Marie, “I never thought you’d feel like this about her. You never seemed like the loving affectionate type before. I thought you agreed to take care of her while I was gone as just a favor to me, and would really only be dressing her as a girl for the fun of it, as if it was a game you wanted to play with her.”
“So did I, Marie. But after a while I guess I started to love her. I never had any children of my own, and it was a new experience for me.”
“Look over at her now, Corinne. See how she’s smiling… dancing in her cute little gown. She really is gorgeous! And it’s all your doing. How can I ever thank you!”
“It’s too bad you yourself didn’t start dressing her as a girl when she was just a toddler,” said Corinne. “She would have looked so cute.”
“Oh, she still looks cute,” said Marie. “I can’t get over how she looks! And I’m thrilled that she likes being a girl. Can I stay at your place tonight? I’d love to dress her up in the morning.”
Corinne laughed a little at her sister’s anxiousness. “Of course,” she replied. “I think she’d love having you dress her up. I told her that you always wanted to do it. It’ll make her happy to have you dress her.”
“I can hardly wait,” said Marie.
“Now tell me what happened in New York,” said Corinne. “Did you make a pile of money?”
“A lot more than I thought I would,” said Marie. “And I went shopping while I was there and bought some things for Maryanne. I hope they fit. I picked out some darling dresses and poufy slips for her. But I will have to make a trip back there two or three times a year from now on. They hired me as a consulting editor. Now I won’t have to live just on my alimony.”
“That’s wonderful, Marie. I’m so happy for you.”
“Oh, the money is always nice, but you’ve made me really happy turning Timmy into a pretty little girl. I always wanted to do it so much, but I was afraid I’d upset him if I did.”
“Well, you can spoil her rotten now if you want. He is now your little girl, and that’s the way she wants to stay,” said Corinne.
The two sisters kept talking for most of the afternoon, though they were occasionally interrupted by the relatives and friends of the bride.
Mrs. Pendergast came over and thanked Maryanne for being such a nice pretty little flower girl. Finally they left in the late afternoon and drove back to Corinne’s house.
Maryanne was so happy! She sat between her mother and Aunt on the couch in Corinne’s livingroom, squirming and twisting back and forth, looking up at their faces as they talked.
“Mommy,” she said, “come see my pretty bedroom.”
“Oh, yes,” said Corinne. “I tried to make it as pretty as I could for her. Go ahead with her and I’ll join you after a make a trip to the powder room. It’s been a long day.”
Maryanne took her mother’s hand and led her up the stairs and down the hallway to her bedroom. She opened the door and Marie stepped into it.
“Oh, sweetheart!” she said. “Isn’t this a pretty room! The nice ruffled curtains and your pretty bed and dressing table, and the wallpaper! It’s so pretty in here. Just what any pretty little girl would love.”
“I do love it, Mommy,” said Maryanne. “It makes me feel pretty every time I come in here. And look, Mommy. See all the pretty dresses and slips in my closet. Isn’t it all wonderful?”
“Oh, yes dear,” said Marie. “Auntie treated you very good while I was gone. Didn’t she?” They sat down on the bed together. Marie smiled as she watched Maryanne smooth her little dress behind her.
“Well, at first I was afraid of her, Mommy,” Maryanne began. “And I thought she was mean making me be a girl. But after a while, she seemed friendlier to me and we started doing a lot of things together, like shopping and visiting some of her friends. And she took me out to restaurants and to an antique dealer, too. And soon I had a whole closet full of pretty clothes from our shopping trips.
“I was so glad that you let my hair grow long because the lady at the salon was able to give me some bangs and a nice ponytail.”
“I can’t wait till I see you in a pretty dress and your hair in a ponytail tied up with a pretty ribbon, sweetheart,” said Marie. “But tell me… How long was it before you began to like being a girl?”
“Gosh, Mommy!” said her little girl. Then she covered her mouth. “Whoops! Auntie told me not to say that. She said nice little girls don’t say things like that or use slang. Anyway, I think I started to like it the very first day. But I was afraid that the other boys would call me a sissy, and it seemed so different that it kind of scared me a little. Pretty soon though I knew that it really made me feel so nice, Mommy! So I started to try and do everything Auntie told me to do. Now I want to be a girl forever!”
Marie smiled at her. She was so cute, and acted like such a little lady.
“Honey, let’s take off your beautiful gown so nothing happens to it. Then I’ll help you to get dressed and put your hair back in a ponytail.”
“Yes, Mommy,” she replied. “Auntie said I should do that, too.” She stood up and Marie helped her out of the gown and the big poufy slip that went with it. She hung it up in the closet and started looking at different dresses; trying to decide which one she should put on her.
“Maryanne, do you have any favorite dresses?” she asked.
“Yes, Mommy,” she answered. “I like the pink one with the white lace trim and sash. And I usually wear a white bouffant slip under it, too.”
“Oh, yes. Here it is,” said Marie. “And it does look darling! I can’t wait to see you in it.”
Pretty soon Maryanne was all dressed up and had her hair back in a ponytail. She still had on the makeup Auntie put on her when she went to the wedding. Marie just had to touch it up a bit. Then she looked down at her and smiled lovingly.
“Oh, sweetheart! You look like the pretty little girl that I’ve always wanted.” She leaned down and hugged Maryanne and gave her a big kiss on her cheek.
“I’m so glad you’re home and that you like me the way I am now, Mommy. I was afraid that when you came home you might turn me back into a boy.”
“Oh, no!” said Marie. “I want you to be my little girl from now on. Auntie has made you such a nice girl, and I want you to stay that way.”
“Auntie said that I might have to see a doctor to make me keep looking like a girl when I get older, Mommy.”
“Yes, honey. We talked a little about it. But that’s a long way off right now. Don’t worry, dear. We’ll do what we think will keep you happy.”
Maryanne hugged her around the waist. “I love you so much, Mommy. And Auntie, too.” Then Corinne came in and saw that Marie had already changed her clothes.
“Well, now!” said Corinne. “You look very nice, Maryanne. Doesn’t she look sweet, Marie?”
“Oh, yes! She’s just what I had always hoped she had been. My very own little girl.”
“Our little girl,” Corinne corrected her.
“Yes,” said Marie. “I haven’t forgotten our plans.”
“What plans, Mommy?” asked Maryanne.
“Honey,” began Marie, “Auntie and I have been thinking that I should sell my house and come live here with you and her instead. Would you like that?”
“That would be great, Mommy!” replied Maryanne. “Then I could have the two ladies I love better than anyone else in the whole world living with me.”
“And we both love you too, dear,” said Auntie as she bent down and hugged and kissed her little niece. “And now we’ll all live in the same house together.”
Later that night when Maryanne was in bed, Corinne and Marie were sitting in wingback chairs by the fire in the living room. Corinne had made two Martinis for them, and they were relaxing after such a wonderful day.
“You know, Marie,” said Corinne, “you and I both wanted to turn your little boy into a girl, but for different reasons at first. But now we want her to remain a girl for the same reason. It’s love. We both want her to remain as happy as she is now.”
“Corinne,” said Marie, “I’ve never heard you talk this way before. It seems like there’s been a big change to you, also.”
“Yes, I know,” said Corinne. “Having a happy little girl living with me made me realize that there’s so much more to life than trying to impress people at the country club. When I think of all those wasted years before she moved in with me…just kiding myself that it was all I wanted, and feeling so lonely deep inside.” She bent over and started to cry.
Marie quickly got up and went over to her sister, sitting on the arm of the chair and placing her arm around her shoulders.
“Oh, Sis! Please don’t cry. Everything’s all right now. And like Maryanne said, she’ll have the two of us loving her now.”
“Oh, yes! I do love her so much, Marie,” said Corinne. “I couldn’t bear to have her leave my life now. She’s such a sweet little thing I want to hold her close to me forever.”
“And I feel the same way, Sis,” said Marie. “Don’t worry. I’ll move in with you, and the three of us will be together.”
“Thank you so much, Marie. I know it’s a lot of trouble, but it’s the only way I can see how we’ll all be happy.”
Two weeks later the move was complete, and there was a ‘FOR SALE’ sign on Marie’s house. Because of the beautiful quiet location and the excellent maintenance Marie had seen the house had, she soon received a very handsome price for it. The first thing she did after the sale was over was to go shopping with Corinne and Maryanne to buy her little girl some nice Autumn dresses and other pretty things.
For the next few years, life seemed like one long continuous happy dream for all of them. They went everywhere together. And their daily life in Corinne’s house was filled with happiness. It didn’t seem possible to either of the two women, but to their delight Maryanne became even more of a girl in her habits and interests. Soon the house had other little girls coming into it. Maryanne had made friends with a number of other girls her age in the neighborhood, and some of the girls at Mrs. Pendergast’s’s bridge party came with their mommies to visit her quite often, also.
In an all too short time, Maryanne had grown to the point where they had to start considering the need for a doctor and an operation. Both women were very frank with her, telling her she’d never be able to be a boy anymore if she had the operation. But instead of being afraid, Maryanne asked them how soon she could have it done.
Seven years went by, and one day Auntie hung a large picture up in the living room. It showed Maryanne in her Junior Prom gown. And she was still just as sweet and pretty when she became a young woman.
One winter night the three of them were sitting near the fireplace having coffee. They had been talking about the different things they had done together during the past years, and also making some plans for Spring’s return. Suddenly Maryanne said, “I don’t care what we do from now on, because I know we’ll all be happy as long as we’re together.”
