“Oh there’s no need to apologise Peter… you’ve done nothing wrong.” the teacher reassures. Their attention is drawn by a group of girls leaving and waving bye-bye specifically to Peter. He blushes, not knowing what to make of it; teasing or friendly… who can tell?

Peter looks at his sister, then his reflection. “I’m such an idiot.” he moans.

“Bye Peter!” echoes across the studio once more.

Peter looks for the source of the sound and waves shyly in the general direction of the door. He looks back at himself  in the mirror, then to his sister. “You could have said something.”

“When?” Sally asks.

“When I came out.”

After a pause, she replies, “I said you looked nice.”

“But you could have said…” Peter began.

“Hey Sally?” A voice called from across the room. “Is your brother coming next week?”

“Think so.” Sally replies, before turning back to her brother. “I’m sorry Peter… I figured it was best to pretend it was normal… otherwise I’d have embarrassed you.”

“I think your sister did the right thing Peter…” Miss Baxter says, “…drawing attention to your error would have made you feel ten times more self conscious than you looked.” she explained. “But judging by the way the girls have acted towards you, being a boy…” she says, knowing how mean they can be. “…I think they’re quite impressed,”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, on the rare occasion a boy joins… they tend to act cocky and show off… as if they’re somehow better than the girls… you know what boys can be like.”

Peter listens and agrees… so far.

“Thing is most girls don’t stand for that and soon bring them down to size… you know what girls are like.” She steps around him and looks him up and down, from his low heeled black Mary Jane’s and white knee high pop socks. His pale white legs and short black circle skirt. His short sleeved leotard and blond moppy hair. “I think by joining the class as you did and not being all ‘boyish’ is the best thing you could’ve done.” Miss Baxter tells him.

“Bye Pete!” another voice calls.

“See what I mean? The girls have already accepted you.” Miss Baxter smiles. “Although I’m sure you’d rather wear shorts next week, I think it would be wise to wear the leotard again.” she smiles as she places her hands on his shoulders, hoping to reassure him.

“I think you should too.” Sally says. “You were worried that you wouldn’t fit in and you don’t look silly at all.”

“I don’t know.” Peter sighed, looking down at himself again. “I figured that boys don’t come because they didn’t want to wear a skirt. But when we were dancing, I kept lookingat us all in the mirror and it just seemed ‘right’.” he explained. “…but I just feel like an idiot now.” he blushed

“Well it’s an easy mistake to make Peter.” Sally said, “…and Miss Baxter’s right… I think the girls have warmed to you because…  like…” she paused, “…because they see you as one of us. Not just another boy.”

“But it was a mistake.”

“But they don’t now that.” Sally replied.

“Your sister’s right Peter. As far as the others know, you decided to wear the same as them in order to fit in… and it seems to have worked.” Miss Baxter explains. “Now I can’t tell you what to wear…” she says, glancing down at his feminine attire once more. “If you want to bring some shorts next week that’s fine… but there’ll be a leotard and skirt waiting, then you can choose either way.” she smiles. “Now why don’t you two run along? I’ll see you both next week I hope.”