“Of course they are… the less you look like a boy the better in my book.” Mrs Postlethwaite told him before asking to see the boutique’s selection of children’s nightdresses. “I suppose I’d better buy the girl one too.” she grimaced. “Can’t have you feeling left out can we?”
Alice politely thanked her guardian for the gift of a new nightie, which prompted Mrs Postlethwaite to look to the boy for his appreciation. But Billy can’t bring himself to thank her for putting him in the girl’s clothes. With a mournful gaze, he simply asks why she’s doing this to him. “Because I can’t abide boys and whilst I’m your guardian, you won’t be one… do you understand?”
“But I am a boy!” Billy insisted. “You can’t do this to me.”