The following morning, he dresses himself in his sister’s old uniform, is reassured by his mother that he looks ‘fine’ and he’ll soon get used to it, before nervously climbing the steps from their basement flat and entering the outside world.
As he walks the half mile journey, he’s joined by a handful of girls from his form. They tell him his skirt looks nice, but in a kind of teasing way. “Are you wearing a blouse too?” Daisy asked in a perplexed tone. Peter said he was, before explaining that due to the cost of a new uniform, he has to make do with his sister’s hand-me-downs. “Who are they?!” Daisy exclaimed as they neared the school gates.
“Oh god!” Peter frowned. A small hoard of photographers from the local press were assembled, taking snaps of students as they filtered through the gates. Mrs Bell, the headmistress was there too, seemingly making sure the press don’t harass any of her students.
Of course he’s self conscious on his first day as he is the only boy in his form wearing a skirt. He noticed that quite a lot of the first and second year boys are also wearing skirts, but that’s of little consolation to Peter who’s choice of uniform is questioned by almost everyone in his form. Another non-consolation comes from the fact that a good half of the girls all praise him for wearing a skirt instead of the culottes on the grounds that the culottes are horrible. It’s a similar story with his leg hair, the girls give him a thumbs up, the boy call him a freak. Peter thinks it’s only a matter of seconds before they start on his girlie shoes and socks too, but looking at the footwear worn by the few boys that returned to Ashford, he’s not alone in wearing girlie shoes. A couple of Peter’s friends teased him as they headed for the toilets… “Those are yours Pete!” they said as they passed the girl’s wash room on their way to the boy’s.
It didn’t seem fair that the fifth year boys were exempt from the new uniform rules. Clad in their long trousers, they take great pleasure in referring to all the boys in the years below them as ‘girls’ and claiming that Ashford is turning into an all-girls school.
When Peter returns home his mother asks how his first day went. “OK.” he replied, before telling her that he was the only one in his class who’d worn a skirt and the only one who’d shaved his legs. “There’s only five of us left in my class.” he added. “And about thirty in my whole year.”
“Oh dear.” his mother exclaimed. “Have all the rest transferred to Central?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Peter replied as he hung his backpack from a dining chair. “Apart from the fifth formers… they’re all still there and they can still wear long pants.”
“Well they’ve only got a few months left.” his mother said, glancing at his skirt, legs and ankle socks.
Peter removed his cardigan (also a hand-me-down from Paula) and slung it over the chair too. “I’m going to change.” he said as he began to head for his room.
“Oh please don’t.” his mother asked in a pleaful tone. “I’ve hardly seen you in your new uniform.”
“I’ve had it on all day though.” Peter moaned.
“Well another hour or two won’t matter.” she smiled. “Oh, did you try your PE skirt for size?” she asked. “PE is tomorrow isn’t it?”
“Yes… and yes.” Peter replied. “Yes.” he added after his mother asked him if it fit or not.
“And remind me when swimming starts…” she said, “…I still need to get you a costume.”
“Paula gave me hers.” Peter replied.
“I know but you’ll want a boy’s one.” his mother advised.
When his sister returned home from college, she too asked Peter how his first day went. “Not bad.” he frowned. “The lads think I’m a freak for wearing a skirt but the girl’s were a bit more encouraging.”
“Well take no notice of them… when it comes to style, girls know best.” she told him.
“Yeah I guess.” Peter replied.