On Easter Sunday I donned my Brownie uniform for the annual Easter service. Mother, Father and Judy also attended and I joined the rest of the Brownies. Some wore their uniform whilst others wore ‘Sunday’ dresses, and no one was more surprised than I when Benjimin and his younger brother Antony arrived wearing Sunday dresses too! I quizzed them about why they didn’t wear their uniforms and glumly, they told me that they ‘always’ wear a dress on a Sunday. “It’s one of Mother’s rules.” Antony added before telling me that this is the first time they’ve worn their dresses in such a public place. It wouldn’t have been so bad for them if it was just Brownies and Guides in attendance, but the Cubs, Scouts and plenty of other local kids attended church on Easter Sunday too. The fact that I attended wearing my Brownie uniform was somewhat over shadowed by Benjimin and Antony’s dresses.
I paid more attention to Benjimin and Antony than the teacher as we endured the boredom of Sunday school. Each wears an identical dress in all but size; cream in colour with a sparse floral print of pink blooms with green foliage. The sleeves are short and puffed, the collar is broad and white, trimmed with lace. Beneath their skirts I spy petticoats, and their legs are clad in thin white tights. On their feet is pair of low heeled strappy sandals and each carries an identical off-white handbag. Neither looks too happy about their attire and if it was me, I don’t think I’d be too chuffed either.
As the boys sat through the annual Sunday school class with the rest of their Brownie pack, their mothers wait outside, chatting. Vincent’s mother is impressed to learn that Benjimin and Antony’s dresses are entirely handmade by their mother, who proudly states “I make most of their dresses.”
“I wouldn’t know where to start.” Vincent’s mother replied. “I did suggest he wears one of his sister’s old dresses today but… he wanted to wear his uniform.”
“So did Benjimin and Antony… they feared they’d be the only ones not in uniform but quite a few turned up in proper dresses.”
“Thankfully Vincent isn’t the only one in uniform either… but I would like to see him wearing a proper dress, I think he’s just reluctant.” she said, before asking if she had a preference as to which of her sons might be crowned May Queen.
“To be honest dear… I have a feeling it’ll be neither of them.” their mother replied. “Allowing boys to be involved is a welcome break from tradition but I suspect that tradition will prevail and the May Queen will be a girl.”
“I suspect the opposite to be honest.” Vincent’s mother retorted. “A boy will be May Queen simply because a boy can be May Queen.”
“Possibly.” their mother replied. “If that is the case then I hope it’s Vincent.” she claimed, explaining that she doesn’t want one of her boys to feel left out should the other be chosen as May Queen.
“I hope it’s Vincent too.” his mother stated. “But that’s a mother’s prerogative.” she bashfully added. “This looks like them now.” she said as the children began to filter out of the church hall.
“Where’s Father and Judy?” I asked as we joined our mothers.
Mother told me he’d taken her home after the Easter service, before bidding Benjimin, Antony and their mother farewell and telling the boys how lovely they both look. Bashfully they thanked her and we went our respective ways. Mother informed me that Benjimin and Antony wear dresses every Sunday, and I told Mother that I already knew, adding “They don’t like wearing them much.”
“It’s nice that they do though.” Mother replied. “Their Mother makes them herself you know.”
“Really?”
“Mm-hmm. She also says that by giving them a bit of girl-time helps them to not be too boisterous or unruly the rest of the time.” she informed be. “Apparently Benjimin was getting a reputation for being a bit of a bully at junior school, so when he started secondary school she began their weekly petticoating regime.”
“Weekly what?” I asked.
“Petticoating regime… putting boys in pretty dresses.” she replied.
“I wouldn’t like that very much.”
“You wear your Brownie uniform once a week.” Mother replied. “That’s not so bad is it?”
“No but my Brownie uniform isn’t pretty.” I replied. “I don’t think I’d like to wear a proper dress.”
“You’ll be wearing a proper dress for the May Queen parade.” Mother reminded me.
