The fear he felt was evident in both his tone and his expression. I raised my hand and held a crooked little finger aloft. “Pinkie promise.” I said. Peter hooked his little finger around mine and the deal was done, just as our mother entered and catching us making the promise, she asked what we were doing. “Peter’s going to model my clothes and I’m going to take the photographs.” I informed her.
“Emma!” he yelped.
“Mum doesn’t count.” I claimed. Mum asked if he’d just be modelling the T shirts, jumpers and jeans, or if I planned on him modelling the skirts and dresses too. “Everything that fits.” I replied as my brother audibly gulped. “Don’t look so nervous Pete… they’re only clothes.” I said, casting him a supportive smile.
“You’ll have to wear a bra.” Mum stated. “The dresses and tops won’t look right on a flat chest.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” I said.
“And you’ll have to wear some tights to hide your hairy legs.” Mum added.
I had thought of that. Mum went on to suggest that he’ll need some make-up too… and that something could be done with his short boyish hair. Peter’s eyes widened, just as his jaw began to drop a little. “We’ll be cropping the pictures so his head won’t be on them.” I informed her, much to my brother’s relief.
“Fair enough.” Mum replied. “What about leggings and tight jeans?” she asked. “Will he be modelling those?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “Why?” I asked. In a patronising tone, Mum reminded me that boys have a bulge that girls don’t have and items such as leggings, spray-on jeans, tight skirts and body-con dresses will reveal said bulge. “I hadn’t thought of that.” I frowned, before suggesting that I’ll have to model those items instead.
“I was thinking more along the lines of a girdle.” Mum replied. “…or magic knickers.” she added. “They should flatten him out.”
“I don’t like the sound of this.” Peter said. “You are joking right?”
Personally, I wasn’t sure. Mum said that if a job’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing well. “No one will know what you’re wearing underneath, and you don’t want it to be too obvious that the model’s really a boy.” Mum told us.
“Well… I guess it’s up to you Pete.” I said. He frowned and gulped and frowned some more. “What if I offered you twenty percent?” I suggested.
“OK.” he hesitantly replied. “But please, don’t tell anyone.” he insisted. Mum left us alone and I grabbed the first pair of jeans, before selecting a top. “Surely any top will do.” Peter said as I took my time choosing something.
“Well it’s got to ‘go’.” I said. Peter sighed impatiently. “I want the pictures to look good… which means any old top won’t do.” I added before finding the top I’d been looking for. “Here it is.” I said as held it for him to see. “I used to wear it all the time with those jeans.”
Mum returned and my poor brother seemed like he wanted the world to open up and swallow him whole. She’d dug out an old beige girdle, a pair of big black control knickers and an unopened pair of ‘magic’ knickers, which are best described as tiny elastic shorts. Of the three, Peter found the ‘magic’ knickers most preferable, but none were very appealing, not even to me. “I dread the day when I need shapewear.” I said as I cast my scornful eyes over the bland beige girdle and formidable control pants.
“It’s not very attractive.” Mum said, “But when you need it, you’ll be glad it exists.” she claimed before turning to my brother. “Have you got a bra?”
“I think you’d know if I did Mum.” Peter bluntly replied.
“I was asking Emma.” Mum dryly stated.