When I arrived in Terrie’s room, I first complimented her posters; Maiden, Sabbath, Saxon and Priest… the four cornerstones of British heavy metal, before casting my gaze around her room. My sister opened our case and put a short leather skirt and a black vest top with a glittery AC/DC print on the bed. “Is that what you’re wearing Izzy?” I asked as she put an unopened box of fishnet tights alongside them.
“Well… you remember when I said there’s certain conditions to us taking you to see AC/DC…” my sister began.
“Yeah.” I replied.
“Well this is one of them.” she told me.
“What is?” I ignorantly asked.
“Your outfit.”
“I can’t wear that!” I gasped.
“Course you can…” my sister told me. “…and when we’ve finished with you, no one will think you’re a guy.” she claimed, putting some black underwear items with the skirt and top.
“But… I am a guy Izzy!”
“Yes, but tonight Matthew…” Isabel said, mimicking the Stars in their Eyes catchphrase, “…you’re going to be …a rock chick!” she grinned.
“I’m not dressing as a girl.” I fearfully exclaimed, gulping at the formerly ‘cool’ outfit on the bed.
“You’ve done it before.” she stated.
“Yeah but… that was just for a laugh.”
“It’s the only way to guarantee that you won’t leave my side.” Izzy replied, “…and that’s one condition that Mum laid down.” she added, explaining that the girls toilets are on one side of the EnormoDome and the guys are on the other and she’s not prepared to escort me every time I need the loo. “Plus… I don’t really want my little brother in tow… I wanna turn you into a rock chick.” she grinned.
I couldn’t believe she was being serious. I looked at Cat and Terrie who both bore beaming grins. “Go on Matty.” Cat encouraged. “You’ll look ace.”
“And you’ve done it before.” Terrie added. “You looked well cute.”
“I was ten!” I whined. My sister reckoned I was twelve when she and Teresa dressed me as a girl. Mum was out, I was bored and wanted to hang out with my sister and her friend, but they didn’t want to hang out with a boy so… thinking about it, I guess I should have expected something like this from them.
My sister has dressed me up in her old clothes on several occasions before and since then when we’ve been home alone. Usually I’ve been bored and pestering to hang out with her. She’s dressed me in her old school uniform, a bridesmaid dress, one of her party dresses, little shorts and cute T shirts.
“We can either spend all afternoon talking you into it and risk missing the start of the concert, or you can back out and I’ll tout your ticket on the door… or you can get changed now and you’ll have plenty of time to get used to being a rock chick.”
“You are joking aren’t you?” I asked. My sister smiled and shook her head. She reminded me that I said the outfit she’d put together looked cool. “It does… but not on me.” I grimaced at the ensemble. “That skirt looks awfully short all of a sudden.” I said.
“Well if’ it’s too short, we’ll find another one.” Terrie said. “…and if you’re not keen on wearing fishnets, I’ve got normal tights.” she added.
“I’m not keen on wearing tights at all.” I grimaced.
“Well you don’t have to.” my sister Izzy said, reminding me that I’ve already shaved my legs and it’d only take five minutes to give them a ‘quick whiz’ to get them smooth.
“You’ve shaved your legs?” Cat exclaimed. I felt myself blush as she added, “You’re halfway there!”
A couple of weeks earlier I’d entered the junior category of a triathlon; a ten mile bike ride, five mile run and half mile swim… I did far worse than I’d hoped and didn’t get anywhere near the podium… but I did consider myself a serious competitor and in order to relay that to the other competitors, I shaved my legs. Plenty of male athletes shave theirs and it was my sister who’d talked me into shaving mine. She even convinced me to shave my armpits too, and all of a sudden I know why!
