Conversations with Vincent are a rare thing these days, which is probably more down to me than than it is him. I returned to my comic but spent more time wondering what it would be like if it was me that had won the game of Happy Families some three months ago. I wondered if I’d even remember what it felt like to wear boy’s clothes after all that time wearing nothing but skirts or dresses. I imagined what the average school day might be like too. After the humiliating journey dressed as a girl, I guess going through the school gates would be a bit of a relief. Having to play one of a number of girlie games during the break times didn’t sound much fun either, nor did playing netball wearing that really short PE skirt. Vincent tells me that it’s OK playing netball, but I don’t believe him. Then again he did say it was OK in comparison to Dance, which is mostly basic ballet and mind numbingly boring. I guess it’d probably be a relief to don the school uniform after wearing the dance kit… or any of the PE kits for that matter. In spite of all my musings, I was thankful for the fact that I’d never know for sure what it’s like to attend Peter’s school… but it did intrigue me.

After having a bit of a clear out, Mrs Mayweather (Veronica’s mother) brings round a bag of clothes that Veronica’s outgrown and wondered if they might fit Peter. “There’s a few school blouses, a pinafore and a couple of summer dresses, they’ll probably be too big for her now but…” Mrs Mayweather says as Mother routes through the bag. “…they’ll be good for next year maybe.”

Mother thanks her for the clothes, and says she’ll send Sonia over later to say thank you too. “She’s out with Lauren.” she added. Mrs Mayweather leaves and Mother puts the carrier bag full of clothes to one side. “Sonia’s going to be over the moon!” she exclaims, casting me a broad grin.

“No he’s not.” I think whilst smiling back and saying “Yeah.”

When Vincent does return he pretends to be interested as Mother holds dress after dress against him to check them for size and style. Most look like a good fit whilst others seem to have plenty of growing room. “Some of these might fit you Andrew.” Mother said as I loitered in the background.

“I don’t wear dresses!” I retorted. “Only girls wear dresses.”

“There’s plenty of boys at Sonia’s school who wear dresses.” my mother reminded me for the umpteenth time. “Try this one Sonia.” Mother said, thrusting a frock into Peter’s hands.

I watch as he climbs the stairs, shyly clutching the rancid green dress. “Yeah but they’re all queer or summit.” I reply when he’s out of earshot.

“Something!” my mother corrects. “And no they’re not. They’re normal boys just like you.” Mother tells me as she holds one of Veronica’s cast off frocks against me.

I swipe it away in an instant. “Get that off me!” I barked.

“I was only seeing how it looks!” Mother said defensively as she held it up again, thankfully not against me this time. “It’s a pity it’s too big for Sonia… I love this style.” she says, more to herself than to me.

“She’ll grow into it.” I dryly state.

“Yes she will.” Mother replied as if in a dream. She turns towards the sound of footsteps. I turned too. Vincent appears on the stairs wearing one of Veronica’s old dresses and surprise surprise, Mother gushes over how nice he looks. After several long minutes of sickening compliments, Mother tells Vincent that she wanted me to try on the sailor dress. “I don’t know what he’s so worried about…” Mother adds as she holds it against herself, “…it’s quite boyish for a dress… no flowers, no frills.”

“It’s still a dress though.” I moaned. Vincent backs me up and says that I shouldn’t have to wear it if I don’t want to.

“Yes but, it wasn’t so long ago that you didn’t want to wear dresses either dear.” Mother said in a patronising tone.

“That was different though.” Vincent replied as he began to blush. “You don’t need another daughter.” he added.

“I know.” Mother replied as she gave Vincent a hug, “I’ve got all the daughter I need right here.” she said in a sickening tone before planting a kiss on Peter’s forehead. God it’s weird, more so without Gregory being here to balance the male/female split. “It just seems like too long to wait to see how it looks.” Mother said.

“You can see how it looks by holding it.” I stated.

“I mean to see how it looks ‘on’.” Mother replied. “It could be months, years before Sonia grows into it.” she mused as she admired the navy blue frock. To be fair, it does look a lot better than most of the frocks she makes Vincent wear… it’s just a pity it’s too big for him, especially since Mother keeps glancing at me as she gushes over it.

Gregory has been away from little over two weeks and this conversation is starting to freak me out a bit. At least Vincent backed me up… but maybe he’s just worried that I’ll claw some attention away from him if I did wear it