As Mike grabbed his baseball glove, mom handed me a purse and said let’s go. Oh my God, she’s not really going to make me go out is she? I mean she never made me go outside dressed like this before but she sure was now. A minute later I found myself sitting in the back seat crouching as low as possible. Mike and mom were in the front seat. I used to always get the front seat but now that I was dressing like a girl, Mike just took my place and I was too embarrassed to say something to him.

During the drive over to the field, mom asked Mike if he liked my makeup. Mike just looked at me a little strangely. “Danielle insisted on wearing makeup if she was going outside. She said all the other girls at school wear it and she wants to be just like them, right sweetie?”

As I cringed at her comments, Mike just laughed at her little lie (which he thought was true) and said I looked really cute in a real condescending way.

Once we reached the ball field, Mike jumped out of the car. Mom said we would be back before the game ended. Mike kissed mom and he waved to me as he yelled, “Bye, Danielle. Don’t let any boys smudge your lipstick.” I wanted to kill him for calling me that name and saying that about me. Imagine me letting a boy kiss me. Mom just laughed as she told me to sit up front with her. I almost died getting out of the car for fear that one of Mike’s team mates might recognize me.

As soon as I realized that mom was not heading back towards home, I asked her where we were going. She then told me we had to go to the mall to get a nice new dress for my birthday dinner. I don’t have time to buy something without you being able to try it on to make sure it fit you properly. I was practically in tears as I begged mom not to take me to the mall since a lot of the kids hung out in there after school, but she didn’t care. I told mom I didn’t need a new dress for dinner.

“I can assure you honey that you will be wearing a nice new pretty dress on Saturday when we celebrate.”

I pleaded with her not to do this to me but she just told me this is how bad boys get treated and it was all for my own good. “I’ve done a lot of research on this type of petticoat treatment and I can promise you it, it works. You were the one shoplifting and being a brat so this is the price you pay. I’d much rather have a sweet daughter than a rotten son, so you just better get used to acting like my precious little girl. If you do good it will remain our family secret but if not, all your friends will know.” I cried and sobbed but to no avail. In a few minutes the car was parked and we were walking towards the mall.

I wasn’t sure if mom was kidding or serious about making me dress completely as a girl for dinner on Saturday, but since I now found myself entering the mall while wearing a mini-skirt, I kind of thought she probably wasn’t kidding.