David sat perched on a swing and as his mother stepped outside, he noticed her. “Mummy!” he yelped before jumping to the ground and running toward her.

“David my darling!” his mother gushed. They embraced. “I’ve missed you so much!” she told him, before breaking the hug and looking him up and down. “I hope you don’t mind me saying but… you look lovely!” She smiled and stared deep into his eyes.

“You’ve changed your hair!” he said. “You look younger.”

“Thank you!” she grinned.

“You’re wearing the same dress as me.” he noticed.

“And you’re wearing the same dress as me.” his mother replied. “Have you had a nice time?” she asked. A lingering, longing expression swept her son’s face. “I know it can’t have been easy… but it really is for the best.” she told him.

“That’s what Auntie keeps telling me.” David glumly replied. “Is it true that all the boys in our family have to dress like girls when they’re my age?”

“It is.” his mother replied. “Cousin Michael did.” she said. “…and Uncle Wilfred too when he was a boy.” she added.

“I don’t like it.” he whined. “All the other boys will laugh at me.”

“Well you’ll just have to keep away from them.” his mother advised.

“But they’re my friends.” he sulked.

“Well if they’re just going to laugh at you, they’re not very good friends are they.” she said.

David gulped and pondered her point. “But they’ll only be laughing because I have to wear girl’s clothes.”

“Only because they’re jealous that your clothes are prettier than theirs.”

“But only girls like pretty clothes.” David claimed. “I’m a boy.”

“I know, and it’s going to take you while to get used to your new clothes.” Valerie said. She crouched and ran her fingers over his square collar. “Uncle Wilfred soon got used to his dresses, and cousin Michael did too, eventually.” she told her son, before asking if he remembers his cousin Michael.

“I think so.” David replied. “Is he Mandy and Kirsten’s brother?”

“Yes.” Valerie replied. “You’ll have only been about five or six when he was petticoated.”

“How old is he now?”

“Almost sixteen.”

“Does he still have to wear dresses?”

“Of course. He may be nearly sixteen but he’s still a boy.” she told her son. She knew just how contrary such a statement sounded… of course a sixteen year old  boy still has to wear dresses.  David reminded his mother that boys aren’t supposed to wear dresses. “They are in our family David… as I’m sure Aunt Martha has explained to you.”

The boy skewed his jaw and dropped his eyes. He’s been told umpteen times why he and all the other boys in their family have to be petticoated, but he’d spent the last few weeks hoping his mother would say something along the lines of when we get home, everything will go back to normal. But deep down David knew that there was little hope as he vaguely recalled what his mother said in the taxi, about things being very different when he does go home

They head indoors and join Aunt Martha in the lounge. “What a lovely surprise Auntie!” Valeria exclaimed. “I had no idea we’d be wearing matching dresses!” she said.